The interior of this 80 square metre loft in a 1930s former industrial building in Clerkenwell, London was designed to retain a sense of light and openness while creating flexible areas for work and guests without compromising privacy. The plan is organised around a freestanding block containing the kitchen and wardrobes, with the open-plan living and dining space on one side and the bedroom and double sided ensuite on the other. A passageway at the far end connects the living space to the bedroom, while the entrance hall is an extension of the living space when all screens are slid and folded away. Timber framed translucent glass screens slide from a concealed pocket to separate the entrance hall from the living space, allowing the hall to function as a meeting room. A table on castors can be used as an additional desk for the studio or rolled into the hall for meetings, with chairs stacked when not required. A further sliding door within the ensuite separates the wc and basin from the bathing area, giving business visitors access without entering the private areas of the home. The entrance hall can also become a guest bedroom, with a bed folding out from the side wall and a wardrobe within the freestanding block between the kitchen and ensuite. Sliding and folding doors divide the hall so that a narrower entrance remains, allowing access to the home without passing through the guest bedroom. At the end of the open-plan living space a studio is concealed behind sliding and folding doors, allowing it to be shut off when not in use. Throughout, full height doors and screens allow spaces to flow together when open.
