A Penthouse Apartment in a London Water Tank Offers Utilitarian Style for $781K
The award-winning flat atop a 1950s Brutalist structure has a multistory interior finished in wood, concrete, and exposed electrical conduits.
The award-winning flat atop a 1950s Brutalist structure has a multistory interior finished in wood, concrete, and exposed electrical conduits.
New to the market in northeast London, this converted one-bedroom penthouse sits atop a landmarked brutalist apartment building known as the Keeling House. Once a water tank, the concrete shell was expanded and retrofitted by architect Brian Heron in 2017. Heron’s design—which received numerous accolades and was shortlisted for a RIBA award—nods to the structure’s utilitarian origins with a simple palette of materials and clever storage solutions.
modernist architect Sir Denys Lasdun in 1955 and built between 1957–59. The local firm Munkenbeck and Marshall led an award-winning conversion of the building from public housing to private apartments in 2001.">Located in London’s Bethnal Green neighborhood, the Grade II–listed Keeling House was designed by modernist architect Sir Denys Lasdun in 1955 and built between 1957–59. The local firm Munkenbeck and Marshall led an award-winning conversion of the building to private apartments in 2001.
Photo by Denys Lasdun, courtesy of Aucoot
In 2011, architect Brian Heron received planning permission to convert the unused rooftop water tank into a three-story penthouse. The project—completed in 2017—received several awards including Best Historic Intervention from New London Architecture’s 2018 "Don't Move, Improve" campaign.
Photo by Denys Lasdun, courtesy of Aucoot
Accessible via an elevator to the 14th floor, the apartment’s entrance opens into the original stairwell, which Heron opted to reinforce with a three-story steel frame to minimize loads on the protected concrete structure. The stairs stop first at the living area and kitchen, while the bedroom and bathroom are located up another flight. A glazed facade floods each level with sunlight from both the eastern and western ends, while fixed glass louvers reduce glare.
An open kitchen and living area occupy the lower level. Storage space is provided by several standalone metal units, along with open shelving on both sides.
Photo by Denys Lasdun, courtesy of Aucoot
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Penthouse Apartment in a London Water Tank Offers Utilitarian Style for $781K
