# London Victorian Terrace Transformed into a Private Art Gallery Stepwell House blends industrial design with South Asian architecture and eclectic furniture. - **Source:** [Yatzer | Live Beautifully. Explore Endlessly.](https://brifing.si/source/57804b69-e268-401e-a34d-76c69a2bf2e6) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2acb8c1f-bd21-441c-a57d-948b882f087c ## Unconventional 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. ## Industrial 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. ## The 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. ## South 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. ## Eclectic 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. ## Viennese 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. ## Tactile 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. ## Synthesis 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. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.yatzer.com/stepwell-house-london-wadhal-max-radford — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._