The Smart's Place residence by David Kohn Architects is a 3,046-square-foot, two-story home constructed atop a 19th-century warehouse in London's Covent Garden for Baylight Properties. Its exterior is clad in vertically stacked plum-colored brick with pale mortar, creating a textured façade that references the surrounding streetscape. The ground floor is arranged as an enfilade, with interconnected dining, library, and lounge spaces opening toward south-facing bay windows and a terrace, while a lift connects the residence to the office below.
The upper level contains two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, a study, integrated shelving, and wood-paneled interiors designed to display art and ceramics. Circular skylights illuminate the central staircase, while recessed bay windows create private terraces landscaped by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. References to Sir John Soane's Museum, Villa Necchi, and David Kohn Architects' Red House informed the home's spatial organization, adapting the studio's enfilade planning approach to a compact rooftop setting.
Image Credit: David Kohn Architects
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Rooftop Urban Infill
- Underused commercial rooftops are emerging as high-value residential sites, creating opportunities for compact luxury housing that expands density without ground-level redevelopment.
- Contextual Brick Facades
- Heritage-inspired masonry treatments can modernize new structures while preserving neighborhood character, opening space for premium materials that bridge contemporary design and historic streetscapes.
- Compact Enfilade Living
- Classical room sequencing adapted to constrained urban homes signals potential for spatial planning models that make small footprints feel more expansive and gallery-like.
Sectors Adopting This
- Residential Architecture
- Architectural practices can differentiate urban housing through bespoke rooftop homes that combine density, privacy, and culturally referential design.
- Real Estate Development
- Property owners and developers are positioned to unlock additional asset value by converting air rights above existing commercial buildings into distinctive residential offerings.
- Luxury Interior Design
- Demand for art-focused interiors, integrated shelving, and crafted wood paneling highlights growth potential for personalized residential environments that function as both homes and private galleries.
