Industrial Revolution: converted industrial spaces for modern living
“We were attracted to the fact it was a very raw, open space. It was like starting with a blank canvas,” said textile designer Lis Carpenter when we went to visit her and architect Stefano Carmi’s house in Milan. Taken by the adaptable, open and characterful nature of the building, we’ve compiled a collection of converted industrial spaces a little closer to home.
Tudor Road, London E9
One of the main drwas of converted industrial spaces is the heaps of character that come by way of their architectural heritage. At Tudor Road, exposed concrete ceilings, steel trusses, huge original Crittall windows and a double-height mono-pitch roof with skylights unite to form an authentic-feeling conversion.
Gibraltar Walk, London E2
East London has no shortage of turn-of-the-century industrial spaces but, for our money, this is one of the best. Adapted from a former furniture-restoration workshop that was originally built in 1905, the three-bedroom house celebrates its former life with exposed brick walls and stripped-wood flooring, metal columns, cast-iron radiators and raw-timber beams.
Barrington Road, London SW9
A true one-of-a-kind, this mixed-used space in Brixton was converted from a former Victorian furniture warehouse, first established in 1871. Solid wood floors, bare brick walls and exposed timber ceilings up the character factor, while a secluded roof terrace, internal mezzanine level and a bespoke spiral staircase make for an engaging spatial arrangement.
Powis Mews, London W11
The generous floorplans and large, open spaces of ex-industrial spaces have long been a hit with the creative set. One such example is the Notting Hill home and studio of renowned designer Ross Lovegrove. The sprawling space is replete with experimental and bespoke details but could be adapted to suit a variety of uses.
St John Street, London EC1
At this outstanding apartment in Clerkenwell, Henley Halebrown Rorrison Architects have succeeded in marrying industrial elements like exposed brick walls and high concrete ceilings with softer flourishes such as the birch-ply panelled floor. The result is a unique space characterised by its open-plan layout.
Coate Street, London E2
Occupying the site of a former carpentry warehouse, this two-bedroom house has a wonderful sense of light and space and is located between Shoreditch and Bethnal Green. The industrial legacy of the building is recognised in the main living area, with an exposed pitched roof and solid oak ceiling trusses establishing a sense of place and history.
Mitchell Street, London EC1
Located between Old Street and Clerkenwell, this split-level apartment occupies the top two floors of a former print works. On the apartment’s first floor, the kitchen is backed by a pair of large west-facing sash windows, which, like all the other windows on the floor, have been restored and stripped back to reveal bare wood. Upstairs, the master bedroom opens onto a small terrace.
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Read more: My Modern House: textile designer Lis Carpenter and architect Stefano Carmi’s converted industrial workshop in Milan
Space for Art’s Sake: six beautiful homes for creatives
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