Architecture studio Michaelis Boyd has reconfigured a Georgian townhouse in west London, adding a flowing spiral staircase that connects all five floors of the minimalist interior.
Flat Iron House is home to Michelin-starred chef Andrew Wong, who grew up in the property and now lives there with his wife Nathalie Beufond and their children.
The studio headed by Alex Michaelis and Tim Boyd was tasked with updating the interior to make it suitable for family living, which involved reorganising the layout and circulation across all five floors.
The owners also requested a refresh of the internal material palette, reflecting their preference for a minimalist aesthetic that evokes memories of holidaying in a Moroccan villa.
The house’s location in a conservation area meant that the main Georgian facade couldn’t be altered, while the building’s wedge-shaped footprint informed how the floor plan evolved.
The original staircase was squeezed into the rear corner of the house, which created dead zones within the compact footprint. Michaelis Boyd repositioned the stair centrally, allowing each floor to be separated into zones with distinct functions.
“Relocating the staircase was key to unlocking the house,” said Michaelis, adding that the living areas and bedrooms are now situated on one side of the stairs, with bathrooms on the opposite side.
“We made it the sculptural heart of the project, a dynamic spine that runs through all five floors, drawing light into the centre of the plan via reinstated sash windows and a large skylight at the top.”
The spiral staircase’s organic form lends it a sculptural presence as it intersects with each floor, culminating in a skylight and double-height void at the attic level.
Adjacent to the ground floor entrance, the staircase acts as a bold architectural statement that spirals upwards and downwards, separating a blue-painted boot room from the kitchen-diner opposite.
The kitchen helps to establish the material palette used throughout the project, which mostly comprises neutral tones accented by natural details.
A large island created from dark-toned wood and topped with marble creates a central feature, while the dining area features a bespoke leather banquette and a tall indoor tree.
Michaelis pointed out that the design’s use of earthy, textured paints layered with oak flooring, Provence limestone and fabric curtains helps to provide richness and variation without cluttering the aesthetic.
“With the staircase already acting as a strong sculptural protagonist, the surrounding palette needed to complement rather than compete,” he told Dezeen.
“This minimalism flows throughout the house, anchoring the architecture and allowing natural light and shadow to do much of the work,” he added.
The basement level houses the family room, which features openings on either side providing access to a pair of courtyards that ensure plenty of natural light reaches the space.
A large, curved sofa complements the lines of the staircase as it descends into the room. The original chimney wall also displays gently curved edges that intersect with bespoke cabinetry.
A guest suite with an en-suite bathroom is accommodated next to the living area. A few more steps lead down to a utility room with book storage housed in the original vaulted cellar.
The restructured floor plan positions family bathrooms on the first and second floors at the narrowest point of the property. These rooms accommodate freestanding bathtubs and showers enclosed by gently curving walls clad with Japanese-style tiles.
The main bedroom features dual-aspect windows providing views towards Battersea Power Station at the front and the Chelsea water tower chimney through a newly added opening in the rear elevation.
The existing attic was transformed into a bedroom featuring bespoke cabinetry that makes the most of the apex-shaped space. New skylights admit daylight and provide views of the neighbouring chimney tops.
The architects explained that they had initially hoped for a light-touch renovation but the poor condition of the existing joists demanded a full rebuild, which proved challenging within the constrained existing envelope.
“With only around 36 square metres per floor, fitting in the full programme and required storage without sacrificing volume was a constant challenge,” said Michaelis.
“The irregular geometry meant every millimetre mattered, all joinery had to be custom-fitted and, with the minimalist language of the interiors, the execution had to be flawless,” he added.
Michaelis Boyd was established in 1996 by Alex Michaelis and Tim Boyd. The studio works across the hospitality and residential sectors on projects that are contextually driven and incorporate biophilic principles.
Michaelis’ own home is a modernist-inspired structure wrapped in curvy brick walls that also features one of the architect’s signature curving staircases.
The practice has designed apartments for the redeveloped Battersea Power Station and transformed a London church into a 1960s-style Cantonese restaurant.
