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feature


19th-century townhouses, belgravia, london


Materials become storytellers. In the principal suite, a continuous, cast-stone vanity and bathtub appear as a single, sculptural form against dove-taupe walls. Polished-nickel taps float above the washbasin; a single globe wall light and the sash window’s generous light combine to create a moment of calm serenity… part gallery, part spa. On the ground floor, a kitchenette and study nook tucked neatly behind restored timber panelling, offering a private retreat for early- morning coffees or home-office hours. Elegance was achieved through disciplined restraint. By paring each room back to its essentials, Tiam Architects lets honed limestone, lime-washed plaster and warm timber carry the narrative. A muted palette and precisely crafted shadow lines cultivate a hush that feels luxurious without making a show of it. Classical proportions persist, yet their profiles are pared to crisp edges, lending modern clarity to a Georgian shell. The result is a space that feels timeless and freshly alive, a quiet sanctuary where simplicity, comfort and understated sophistication effortlessly converge. “We knew the family longed for generous,


connected spaces without losing any of the townhouse’s character,” explains Tiam co- founder Bahar S. Tabatabaei. “Our task was to act as both storyteller and swordsmith, crafting interventions that would resolve the problems of darkness, disconnection, and underuse, while bringing the building’s soul into the light.” Rather than masking any surviving


historical architectural fabric, Tiam’s design amplifies and enhances it. In the living room, restored limestone surrounds sit beneath delicate cornices. At the same time, oversized sliding pocket doors open onto a garden-facing snug, creating a vista that stretches through three interlocking volumes. Upstairs, six well-proportioned bedrooms boast bespoke joinery and en- suite bathrooms; their muted palette of chalk white and dove grey amplifies natural light at every turn. By discreetly adding a rear and lower-


ground extension, Tiam Architects expanded Chester Row’s living space by 200m²; a 70% uplift achieved entirely within planning and conservation rules. The project wields architecture as quiet transformation: honouring the late Georgian fabric while flooding the interior with daylight and calm, delivering a home that is at once period-rooted and unmistakably contemporary… a sanctuary in one of London’s most storied districts.


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