The complete refurbishment of a double height live/work studio and incorporation of a new mezzanine in a former Methodist Chapel in North London.
The plywood balustrade to the mezzanine is solid to give privacy to the sleeping space and it also provides the primary support for the mezzanine structure in the form of a very thin deep beam which is suspended from the existing roof structure above which is strengthened with additional timbers to take the new loads. This is formed from three layers of 12mm birch faced plywood laminated together. The middle layer is offset by half its length effectively forming a huge mortice and tenon joint.
Access to the mezzanine is via a steel folded plate staircase which only touches it once at the extreme end of one of its handrails. The staircase is untreated mild steel and the intention is that it will gently oxidise over time.
Winner of 2006 Wood Awards, small project category
