London Victorian Terrace Transformed into a Private Art Gallery
Stepwell House blends industrial design with South Asian architecture and eclectic furniture.
1Unconventional Victorian Transformation
The Stepwell House in Stoke Newington challenges traditional Victorian terrace renovations by prioritizing an art-centric layout. Architect Fahad Malik sacrificed over one-third of the internal floor area to construct a double-height atrium. This central space functions as a private gallery, effectively connecting the basement to the main ground floor living areas.
2Industrial Aesthetic Choices
The interior design utilizes a restrained palette of clay-washed walls and poured concrete floors to highlight the owners' art collection. Stainless steel staircases, featuring deliberately visible weld marks, emphasize an industrial aesthetic. These raw materials provide a neutral backdrop, allowing the diverse artworks to remain the focal point of the home.
3The Grid Motif Concept
A recurring grid motif provides visual coherence throughout the three-level residence. Stainless steel mesh is used for balustrades, shelving units, and a walkable bridge that facilitates light filtration. This pattern extends to bespoke fumed oak joinery, fossil stone bathroom tiles, and exterior fencing, creating a unified design language across the entire property.
4South Asian Architectural Inspiration
The rear of the property features a stepped structure of stainless steel mesh gabions filled with reddish limestone. Inspired by traditional South Asian stepwells and artist Zarina Hashmi, this cascading tier system serves as a sculptural garden element. It connects the basement courtyard to the kitchen via a functional steel bridge.
5Eclectic Furniture Integration
Gallerist Max Radford curated an eclectic furniture collection spanning over a century of design. The living area pairs contemporary pieces with Viennese Secessionist items and mid-century modern classics. Notable inclusions feature 1970s Jano chairs by Kazuhide Takahama and 1917 pendant lights by Josef Hoffmann, creating a dialogue between different historical design eras.
6Viennese Modernism Influence
The residence incorporates subtle nods to early 20th-century Viennese modernism through specific hardware and seating choices. Loos-designed coat hooks and door handles appear in the lobby, while a 1908 Armlöffel chair by Josef Hoffmann sits within the gallery. These historical artifacts coexist comfortably alongside the home's industrial, contemporary structural elements.
7Tactile Bedroom Design
The bedroom emphasizes comfort through bespoke goat leather headboards and matching bedspreads. The stitched square pattern on the leather echoes the house-wide grid motif, further reinforced by cubic wall lamps from Olivia Bossy. This private space maintains the home's luxurious yet utilitarian aesthetic, providing a warm, cocooning environment for the residents.
8Synthesis of Contrasting Styles
Stepwell House demonstrates that disparate elements like Victorian shells, industrial palettes, and ancient archetypes can achieve harmony. By recontextualizing historical design within a modern framework, the project proves that memorable interiors emerge from unconventional thinking. The house successfully functions as both a comfortable private residence and a sophisticated, professional-grade art gallery.