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By 2017, when architect, designer and illustrator Theo Games Petrohilos acquired the ground floor of a dusty Victorian mansion (complete with terrace) nestled in the colorful North London neighborhood of Kentish Town, he had already distinguished himself in a number of fields. From large-scale staging to urban design and immersive installations, the achievements of Unknown Works, the firm he co-founded, have won him numerous awards. Which begs the question: is this perpetual intellectual effervescence the inspiration for this bucolic, meditative sanctuary?
A perfect symbiosis of minimalism and elegance, the thirty-something’s home is also infused with the same bold radicalism that animate his creative practice. Originally, the space suffered from its elongated shape – its dearth of direct daylight and natural ventilation made it a stifling place, in spite of its lush surroundings. And we haven’t even mentioned the crumbling linoleum and faux-marble slabs.
The first order of business was to rework the L-shaped floor plan in such a way that connections and ease of movement become optimized. A number of walls were knocked down while others were pushed back, in a clean sweep of the past that enabled a new, playful, modular layout to take over. The extensive use of glass panels also transformed the home: “Whatever the weather, the rooms look and feel immense,” Theo asserts. Light streams in until the very end of the day, while abundant plants add to the sense of tranquility. Here, “versatility” becomes synonymous with luxury, serenity – and, above all, well-being. Removable furniture punctuates and articulates the space in equal measure, depending on the time of the day, and the needs of its owner, who loves to entertain.
From now on, inside becomes outside and vice versa: the extension of the building opens onto a luxuriant garden. The narrowness of the original building is also offset by an inner courtyard around which bedrooms and living rooms are laid out. Its very presence revitalizes the whole property, endowing it with new functions, in sometimes unexpected ways.
“It’s no exaggeration to describe this place as an oasis,” muses Theo. “Away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, yet just a stone’s throw from the center of the capital.”
