DSDHA adds crystalline pavilions on fitzrovia apartment rooftops

DSDHA adds crystalline pavilions on fitzrovia apartment rooftops
all images © hélène binet / christoffer rudquist / DSDHA

providing private green space and a rooftop with views over central london, DSDHA architects collaborated with property developers derwent london to conceive the ‘corner house’ apartments. set in a black bricked building, the monolithic scheme is comprised of six-storeys. nine private apartments and two affordable units – all capitalise on high ceilings, views and natural daylighting, along with with a commercial space on the ground floor.  

the aim was to highlight the original structures; consolidating their identities into a single block that reflects the
urban hierarchy

the london-based practice describes the development as ‘a new type of contemporary beauty, one which is less ostentatious yet captivating, capable to build on the qualities of its location to provide a highly sustainable solution that embodies high quality design and craftsmanship.’ despite its monolithic appearance, the project highlights the original character of the building, but simultaneously introduces a contemporary elements; the most obvious intervention takes form as two jewel-like geometrical pavilions that have been placed on the rooftop, opening up a series of unexpected views over the city.

the building comprises 11 apartments, nine private (11,700 sq ft) and two affordable (1,900 sq ft) residential units

materially, the brickwork facade is self supporting which relieves the loading on the foundations. this strategy reduces the mass and thickness of the concrete structure which inherently reduces the number of piled foundations needed and minimizes the concrete and on the energy embodied in the construction.

each floor has a slightly different relationship between the sill and the internal floor levels

the rooftop has influenced the angled windows and shifting planes of the upper floors to give the interiors a distinctive characteristic. the result of the different landscaped terraces and heights has influenced the different relationship between the sill and the internal floor levels, making the building appear less relentlessly stacked and subtly differentiated.

the apartments focus on having double or triple aspect rooms with plenty of natural light

the black-bricked building sits at the corner of a street in fitzrovia, central london

model by DSDHA / two jewel-like crystalline pavilions on the rooftop, opening up a series of unexpected views

architect’s sketch