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Collection by Andrea Bakacs

A Wheelchair-Accessible Adaptive Reuse Project in London

Brod Hart’s home in London’s Finsbury Park neighborhood is hidden away on a quiet street filled with the typical Victorian houses that populate the area. But behind the large steel doors that shield it from view stands what once began as stables, later served as a piano factory, and finally was converted to a wheelchair-accessible private residence. Hart managed the renovation himself and lived on-site during the process, which was challenging. His clever DIY skills and design tricks paid off: The end result is an industrial-chic modern house, fully accessible to wheelchair users.

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A vintage fridge at the top of the stairs is balanced by modern and industrial touches.
A vintage fridge at the top of the stairs is balanced by modern and industrial touches.
View of the steel pulley system from upstairs. Brod designed the pulley himself, essentially a personal elevator, using nothing but cantilevered body weight to hoist him up and down within seconds.
View of the steel pulley system from upstairs. Brod designed the pulley himself, essentially a personal elevator, using nothing but cantilevered body weight to hoist him up and down within seconds.
Brod Hart, owner, as he enters the lift/elevator he designed and constructed himself. A simple counterbalance operates the lift, allowing him to get up and down the stairs even faster that his able bodied guests who take the adjacent industrial stairs.
Brod Hart, owner, as he enters the lift/elevator he designed and constructed himself. A simple counterbalance operates the lift, allowing him to get up and down the stairs even faster that his able bodied guests who take the adjacent industrial stairs.
View into the bedroom with private terrace from the living room. A simple palette of grays blend with the industrial chic aesthetic, with splashes of red and gold.
View into the bedroom with private terrace from the living room. A simple palette of grays blend with the industrial chic aesthetic, with splashes of red and gold.
The upstairs master bath is dark slate tiles, red walls, and gold vintage accents.
The upstairs master bath is dark slate tiles, red walls, and gold vintage accents.
Hart’s master bedroom is industrial yet modern. Metal pipes as handles on the drawers juxtapose the headboard made from a reclaimed door.
Hart’s master bedroom is industrial yet modern. Metal pipes as handles on the drawers juxtapose the headboard made from a reclaimed door.
The upstairs living room open plan shelves hold an old Casio keyboard that belonged to Hart’s grandfather Pete.
The upstairs living room open plan shelves hold an old Casio keyboard that belonged to Hart’s grandfather Pete.
Brod replaced the usual and quite ugly workout bench chair with a custom one he made years ago from laminated plywood and timber salvaged from a skip.
Brod replaced the usual and quite ugly workout bench chair with a custom one he made years ago from laminated plywood and timber salvaged from a skip.
An Eames mid-century coat rack hangs in the kitchen looking onto the second dining room and storage hallway leading to two guest bedrooms.
An Eames mid-century coat rack hangs in the kitchen looking onto the second dining room and storage hallway leading to two guest bedrooms.
Floor to ceiling storage lines the lower hallway leading from the kitchen past two guest bedrooms to a large slate bathroom at the end.
Floor to ceiling storage lines the lower hallway leading from the kitchen past two guest bedrooms to a large slate bathroom at the end.
A red mechanics tool chest houses car stuff, while a wood block on wheels contains additional stove burners for extra cooking space.
A red mechanics tool chest houses car stuff, while a wood block on wheels contains additional stove burners for extra cooking space.
Indoor/outdoor living abounds, with plenty of room for entertaining, especially in the custom courtyard that has held hundreds of guests at many a party.
Indoor/outdoor living abounds, with plenty of room for entertaining, especially in the custom courtyard that has held hundreds of guests at many a party.