Scoop Up This Compact, Sun-Kissed Flat in London for £315K

Sculptor Neil Marlow revived the historic one-bedroom apartment into a charming live/work space.

Scoop Up This Compact, Sun-Kissed Flat in London for £315K

Sculptor Neil Marlow revived the historic one-bedroom apartment into a charming live/work space.

Once inside the first-floor apartment, an entryway leads into the luminous main living areas.

An eclectic micro home is now up for grabs in London. The one-bedroom dwelling sits on the first floor of Westcombe Court in the brutalist Vanbrugh Park Estate, which was designed in 1965 by world-renowned architecture firm Chamberlin, Powell & Bon. 

For the last 15 years, the apartment has been owned by sculptor Neil Marlow, who treated the space to a complete overhaul. "It was very different when I first arrived; the interior was pretty shabby," says Marlow. "But what I noticed when I first entered the space were the windows, the view, and the natural light. I thought, ‘if all the background stuff is there—the walls are solid, it’s organized in a sensible way, and there is good light—anything I add will just improve it.’"

The eight-story building of Westcombe Court was designed in 1965 by architecture firm Chamberlin, Powell & Bon. It is part of the housing scheme known as the Vanbrugh Park estate, which was commissioned by the city's Borough of Greenwich, and is located just a short walk from Greenwich Park.

The eight-story Westcombe Court apartment building was designed in 1965 by architecture firm Chamberlin, Powell & Bon. It is part of Vanbrugh Park Estate, which was commissioned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and is located just a short walk from Greenwich Park.

Photo courtesy of The Modern House

Once inside the first-floor apartment, an entryway leads into the luminous main living areas.

The first-floor apartment’s entryway leads into the luminous living areas. 

Photo courtesy of The Modern House

Marlow stitched together a thoughtful palette of materials to modernize the space while paying respect to the original design. Marlow installed sliding doors and cleverly crafted storage units to create an open, versatile space where he could live and work.

"I genuinely have loved being here," he says, commenting on the 471-square-foot dwelling. "I’m a sculptor and jeweler, and I work from home; I probably spend 90 percent of my time in here, and I never get bored."

The view from the living room looking toward the kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves climb up one of the side walls, offering an abundance of storage.

The view from the living room looking toward the kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves climb up one of the side walls, offering an abundance of storage. 

Photo courtesy of The Modern House

See the full story on Dwell.com: Scoop Up This Compact, Sun-Kissed Flat in London for £315K
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