Extraordinary Requests. Meticulously Delivered.
One of the privileges of working in the true prime residential sector is that no two briefs are ever the same. Our clients often come to us with highly personal aspirations, unique interests and requirements that demand exceptional levels of creativity, technical expertise and coordination.
Here are some of the more notable requests we have helped deliver over the years….
The High-rise Ice Rink
Often housed in a barn or outbuilding, a private ice rink represents the pinnacle of luxury residential design. It also presents a logistical challenge when the space available is an apartment in a premium central London development, as was the case with one LA London project.
While the ice itself is surprisingly thin – typically around 25mm – ice rinks typically require considerable structural support to bear the weight of the refrigeration pipes, water and insulation. We also faced environmental and technical challenges to accommodate the ice rink within the higher-level flat, where the acoustic impact on other residents had to be considered.
With waterproofing being of primary concern, the rink was designed as a fully tanked system with multiple waterproofing layers and sealed perimeter kerbs to contain meltwater safely, even in the unlikely event of a full plant failure. The rink was tested with over 800l of water – equivalent to a melted ice pad – to make sure this could be retained successfully for 72 hours.
We also needed to consider the floor build-up, refrigeration plant and environmental controls. The rink floor was built up by 240mm above surrounding floor levels to accommodate insulation and the cooling system beneath the ice.
A typical ice rink floor build-up. Image courtesy of Ice Tech UK.
Maintaining stable environmental conditions was equally critical. Room temperature and humidity had to be tightly controlled to preserve ice quality and minimise energy use, with self-closing doors and carefully specified finishes helping to reduce unnecessary heat gain.
The associated plant also required substantial adjacent space and a carefully considered ventilation strategy.
The Floating Staircase
Camp End Manor, the exceptional Regency-style home we designed on St George’s Hill, deserved an equally special staircase. Working with the Stonemasonry Company and Webb Yates Engineers, the LA London team developed a ‘floating’ 270-degree self-supporting spiral staircase that runs through the centre of the house – the first of its kind.
The staircase at Camp End Manor
A steel cable was threaded through a hole drilled into the spine and tensioned hydraulically to eliminate any twisting and consequential wobbling. The load from each stone tread is carried down to the next, just like a cantilevered stair, but – remarkably – without a restraining wall.
Both beautiful and surprisingly cost-effective, this staircase also allows natural light to flood through the house from a large circular roof light.
The Snow Room (with edible snow)
We’re currently working on a residential project that includes an at-home Narnia: as part of a wholescale refurbishment, our client has requested a snow room.
The latest wellness innovation, snow rooms use technology to generate real, falling snow in a residential space. They are often used alongside saunas as part of a private wellness suite, and are believed to be beneficial for blood circulation and the immune system, as well as having a striking aesthetic appeal.
For our particular client, who has small children, it was also vital that the snow should be edible…
The Bowling Alley (and full-length swimming pool)
The bowling alley and adjacent 25m swimming pool
For a recent project on the Crown Estate in Oxshott, we were asked to replace an existing swimming pool with a larger, 25m pool and bowling alley. So far, so straightforward – except that the space available was only 23.5m.
The LA London team designed the new pool to run parallel to the rear of the house so that it would fit within the footprint of the garden. We carried out a huge excavation to house the full-length pool and equipment, with the bowling alley running alongside, before restoring the garden above to its former pristine condition. We also converted the area that had housed the client’s previous, smaller pool into a cinema and games room.
Natural light now floods the space from above thanks to a new, elegant spiral staircase that doubles as a lightwell, and a sunken garden to allow light into the other end.
The Self-filtering Swimming Ponds
The reed beds at Gaywood Farm
Our project restoring the neglected, 500-year-old farmhouse at Gaywood Farm in East Sussex, which included a new reed bed filtration system to treat the waste water from the property. This was an early, and highly successful, example of sustainable design at LA London.
The Giant Aquarium
For a project in Mayfair with renowned prime developers Candy & Candy, LA London converted four apartments into one vast duplex of 6,500ft
The new space is organised around a giant aquarium that lines the principal staircase, giving the occupants and their guests a soothing glimpse into a serene underwater world as they move between rooms and floors.
The giant aquarium lining the staircase at our Davies Street project
The otherworldly elements of this project are also apparent in the custom-made glass staircase, the vast chandelier, and premium finishes that include silk and horsehair wallpaper, frame-lit artisan doors and marble floors.
The Formula 1 Feature
For one top-secret super-prime residential project, we were asked to accommodate a Formula 1 car inside a seventh-floor apartment.
Unsurprisingly, the car had to be craned into the apartment, where it became the focal point of an open-plan living space.
The Forest Hideaway
Our design for a large dacha near Moscow made the most of its beautiful forest setting, with expansive glazing looking directly onto the surrounding river and rows of silver birch trees and Corsican pines, inviting the outside in.
Responding to the client’s requirement for a modern and organic open space, we used the natural slope of the site to merge the main three-storey house into the landscape. The unique roof structure allows light to enter at a high level through a multi-layered, triple-panel glazed structure that responds to both daylight and temperature levels.
Large, motorised screens assist with environmental comfort and each glass panel is set at a slightly different angle to reflect light in a distinct way, adding to the magical effect of this forest hideaway. Internally, extensive use of wood panelling, flooring and furniture mirrors the sylvan surroundings.
Down on the riverbank, there is a Wellness Centre. This has an inside-outside pool with a glass bottom, below which is the gym. On the walls of the gym are projected videos of sharks swimming, giving the immersive impression of training underwater surrounded by sharks!
If you’d like to discuss an idea or vision for your dream home, please contact us.
