# Rooftop Brick Residences The Smart's Place Residence Transforms a Covent Garden Rooftop By Amy Duong | Published 2026-08-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smarts-place References: [davidkohn](https://www.davidkohn.co.uk/)  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 ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 84% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Minimalist Running Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/740n.md) - [Contemporary Wall-Mounted Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beosound-tableau.md) - [Monochrome Running Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/huaka-pro.md) - [Embroidered Fashion Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fake-as-flowers.md) - [Stunningly Sculptural Poolside Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-dip-pavilion.md) - [Portable Garment Dewrinklers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elide.md) - [Beachfront Villa Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/not-a-hotel-aoshima.md) - [Modular eVTOL Platform](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autoflight-prosperity.md) - [Modern Research Centres](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/research-centre.md)