This live-work for a film director and writer with their two children comprises a string of three buildings that have been added in time – starting first with a Grade-II listed, 1760s Georgian terrace house at the front, to which was added much later, a two-storey factory warehouse and garage-mews. Our approach sought to capture the essence of each of these in a rich sequence, while assuring the continuity of the whole.

Upon first entering the house from Cross Street, the house presents itself as a well cared for Georgian terrace house with warm timber panelling, original wide timber floorboards, panelling and cornicing. Just beyond the rear reception doors the scale suddenly changes. Here, you step into a single, large warehouse space as dining/ living room with a kitchen beyond. It comes as a surprise. The large trusses have been partially stripped of paint and are complimented by new French railway oak flooring. The kitchen comprises reclaimed teak countertops and door fronts, a 180cm oven with industrial extractor. There is a lot of space for shelving and storage in front of original bead and butt panelling.

Just under this space is another 100m2 room that is a library-cinema room. It has a palpable acoustic presence due to all the books, filling the space to the brim. There are no windows here. As such we put in some light boxes in the ceiling. These have been set within what were once openings in the floor for rolls of fabrics, which once served the textile manufacturing of the area.