A Surprising London Townhouse Filled With Intriguing Geometry Asks $2.4M
This late-’80s home by Sean Madigan and Stephen Donald features a facade of recycled bricks and a hollowed-out concrete pillar at the core.
Take a walk along Murray Mews, a cobblestone side street in London, and you might be surprised to find rows of modern homes. Located just off Camden Square, this neighborhood block strikes a stark contrast with the colorful townhomes of Notting Hill. Halfway down the lane stands number 12—distinctive for its geometric design and the way it blends sleek metals with handsome brickwork.
Murray Mews is known for homes by well-known architects. It features early works from Team 4, the ’60s-era firm of Richard Rogers and Norman Foster.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The brick facade complements the cobbled street. A garage lies to the left of the front door; to the right are four recessed windows that provide a view out from the kitchen.
Courtesy of The Modern House
Get the Real Estate Newsletter
From midcentury classics to the best contemporary spaces for sale, see the latest listings for modern homes on the market around the world.
Built in 1988, this 2,100-square-foot home is clad in reclaimed stock bricks, giving it a timeworn look typical of London neighborhoods. The renovated residence offers four bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as several large living areas—including one with a full-width bay window.
The entrance opens into a large dining area. Frosted glass pocket doors can separate this space from the living room.
Courtesy of The Modern House
An expansive bay window is a dramatic centerpiece, framing views of a lush backyard garden. The metal glasswork lends a greenhouse-like atmosphere to the space.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The symmetrically stacked facade is centered around the main entrance, which appears to leads upward to a full-width dormer clad in inky metal. Yet, such forms are only made clear upon stepping inside the home.
French doors open to a private oasis. The curvaceous rear facade contrasts with the home's linear, symmetrical front.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The Royal Institute of British Architects once hailed the home as an early example of the luxury London mews home. Today the Camden Square Conservation Area is working to preserve the neighborhood's character.
The modern kitchen occupies a nook opposite the dining room and entryway. The space features a deeply linear layout with four square windows centered above the sink.
Courtesy of The Modern House
Beech wood floors continue up the spiral staircase. A hollowed-out concrete column rises through the home's three levels, adding a sculptural point of interest to each story.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The top level offers a playroom and a secondary family room. It also contains what is perhaps the home's most unexpected feature—a pyramidal window extruding from a central dormer.
At the top of the stairs, a two-story curved glass wall is revealed. The glass features acid-etched chevron patterns by artist Ray Bradley that become denser toward the top, producing a unique pattern of reflected light.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The bright master bedroom provides access to a private rooftop terrace. A large window stretches along a semicircular wall overlooking the backyard.
Courtesy of The Modern House
The master bathroom offers a soaking tub and a modern vanity. A wall of frosted glass doors bring natural light into the space while also providing access to the hallway.
Courtesy of The Modern House
What appears as a simple rectangular dormer from the front turns out to be something entirely unexpected in the rear-facing family room.
Courtesy of The Modern House
12 Murray Mews is currently listed for £1,999,000 (approximately $2,430,000) by The Modern House.
Know of a home for sale or rent that should be featured on Dwell.com? Find out how to submit to Dwell.
Published