GOAStudio London residential architecture feature in “Fabulous Interiors and Architecture Designs” – BBeyond Books

GOA STUDIO is a London-based architecture practice specialising in residential projects and home extensions in the capital. We asked George Omalianakis, head of the practice, to address the challenges faced by home owners, investors and architects in what is one of the most highly valued real estate markets in the world.

The London property market is one of the most interesting in the world because of the challenges it offers architects – how do you respond to growing demand for space in what is, essentially, an old and often protected housing stock?

The London property market is certainly one of the most challenging and this is something most Londoners and foreign nationals struggle with alike. Having said that there is definitely a different cultural perception of what constitutes sufficient habitable space for people from the Continent and countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the States when compared to most people living in Britain. And this is a real problem as it is simply not physically possible to create additional residential space in a congested urban area such London, and architects only rarely happen to possess time-bending and space-creating mystic abilities. Sometimes there is no point trying to respond in a direct way and a sideways way and creative way of thinking proves to be the way forward. Sometimes this means finding a way to maximise the sense of space through clever use of materials, sometimes by opening up long sight-lines through a sequence of internal and external spaces, and sometimes by finding ways to allow natural light and direct sunlight deep in the floor plan.

When it comes to planning it is also worth remembering that the majority of the housing stock in central London (Zones 1 and 2) is within conservation areas and many properties has a Listing protection on top. There are large amounts of civic green space and many parks dotted around the city however densities can still be very high when it comes to residential areas and at first glance there seem to be very few opportunities of adding useful space to residential properties. This is when ingenuity is necessary and this is when detailed knowledge of the intricate planning legislation really pays off; this is also the time when clients need to be prepared to explore unconventional ideas and to challenge themselves. Challenge us too as their designers.

How do you go about creating a sense of space and openness in older homes which is what we mostly have in London?

Sometimes we try to create what we call the Alice in Wonderland effect; long views from contained spaces that make the spaces feel larger or smaller depending on how long or short the view is along a sequence of spaces. Spaces sometimes appear to animate as one moves through them and this creates a sense of openness and delight. Then again it is also the cathedral effect we try to recreate (uplifting spaces through the use of a higher ceiling level), or what we affectionately call the Starship Enterprise bridge effect (when a raised space overlooks seating or external areas), or by opening up corners to allow internal spaces to spill outside while at the same time bringing external activities indoors.

We believe that the multi-use of spaces is the most effective antidote to the actual luck of sufficient space and it is also worth noting that lifestyles have historically changed over time. In the past domestic spaces were one dimensional in terms of function with dedicated rooms for entertainment, eating, cooking, sleeping, socialising. These days the day room, i.e. the “kitchen and utility, informal living and tv watching, dining and entertaining, kids supervision and play, wine glass holding or electronic pad finger tapping” room, is the most common type of space to accommodate modern lifestyles. The same space can be used differently during different times of day and seasons, on different occasions, or over the years. It is this fluidity of use and multi-layer approach that we try to incorporate in our designs.

Are foreign buyers creating a revolution in design and architecture as they test creativity, space restrictions and council attitude?
The diverse cultural backgrounds of the foreign nationals in London are rarely expressed in the external appearance of their properties. Of course the same applies for the British nationals as well and it is fair to say that a more contemporary and rather continental style is becoming more and more dominant across London in the very specific way it effortlessly blends with traditional Georgian and Victorian architectures.

Where these diverse cultural backgrounds find a colourful expression is in the design of the internal spaces both in terms of texture and the organisation of these spaces. From things as minor as where the washing machine will go (typically in European cultures the utility area tends to be near the bedrooms) to the relationship between living spaces and gardens (a warmer climate cultural background will gravitate to design decisions that create indoor areas that open up and actively interact with external spaces), to the whole internal decoration scheme; it all finds an expression as a distinct collection of memories, past lifestyles and personal interpretations.

Have kitchens become the new must have accessory in contemporary London homes? What other dedicated spaces do clients want that didn’t exist a decade or two ago? Gym, study, art gallery, library, wine room?
Kitchens are not an accessory anymore. Kitchen have become an important expression of our lifestyles, values and quite possibly a reflection of how we want others to see us. And how others see us as anyway. Has an elegant kitchen become a status symbol? It has definitely become an act of self-expression; the single space we have decided to live our lives around and the space we just have to get right for everything else to feel right too.

Gyms are something we are sometimes asked to include in residential properties however this is probably as common as people might think. Library and quiet reading spaces are very popular however there is a contrast between what a library was in the past and what it might be now. These days the library function can be accommodated in a more flexible way along a staircase, as part of a hallway, as a way to visually enrich a room, maybe next to a window, becoming an integral part of a glass box, a box-seat that also doubles up as a design feature. Gallery and exhibition spaces are definitely becoming part of residential spaces and again the key here is a similar flexibility of use and function. One of our favourite requests has been for a spiral wine cellar staircase that allowed access to a store of up to 1,500 bottles of wines along the length of the spiral staircase; a glass floor sliding panel also instantly made it a feature to the room. In hindsight, this could work equally well as a shoe store, an idea we plan to put forward to some of our future clients.

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