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What had been a standard HMO is completely reinvented as luxury serviced apartments

Location

Clapham Common SW4

Local Authority

Lambeth Council

Plot Type

Listed building

Project Type

Conversion

Accomplishment

Application for high-end serviced apartments

Services by Urbanist Architecture

Project architect

Challenge

Our task was to convert an HMO into luxury serviced apartments, changing it from class C4 to class C1. But, there is a little more to the story. In a nutshell, our client wanted to create a place for those who work in London during the week but then head home at the weekends. Renting a whole flat might seem unnecessary, hotels are too expensive, and sharing a bathroom with strangers is unappealing. Our challenge was to create a viable solution.

Approach

We analysed the client's vision, recognising the growing need for private bathrooms and more personal space, especially highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We focused on designing individual units that balanced luxury and practicality, ensuring each had its own bathroom and ample space for work and relaxation.

Solution

Ultimately, we converted the HMO from C4 to C1, creating luxury serviced apartments with private bathrooms and optional food services. This approach not only addressed the niche market of weekday London workers but also set a precedent for future HMO designs.

Before & After

Existing basement floor plan of a listed building in Clapham Common SW4, currently operating as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The blueprint illustrates the initial layout prior to conversion into luxury serviced apartments. Key features include multiple rooms arranged around a central corridor, showcasing the original structural design intended for shared living spaces. This floor plan is essential for understanding the spatial organisation and planning requirements needed for the transformation into high-end serviced accommodations, ensuring each unit has its own bathroom and private amenities to cater to professionals seeking cost-effective, yet comfortable, weekday housing solutions.
Location

Clapham Common SW4

Local Authority

Lambeth Council

Plot Type

Listed building

Project Type

Conversion

Accomplishment

Application for high-end serviced apartments

Services by Urbanist Architecture

Project architect

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