Elizabeth Mews

Vertical Timber Louvres in London Mews Renovation

Thanks to a new opening front and its vertical timber louvres with integrated glazing, architect Trewhela Williams award winning design allows daylight to permeate the once dark interiors of Elizabeth Mews while providing cross ventilation and privacy.

Products Used

Featured In

Wallpaper Magazine's Minimalist Architecture feature: homes that inspire calm Dezeen Shortlisted in AJ Retrofit Awards 2023, Transformations Prize Winner - Don't Move, Improve! Awards 2023 

Credit

Architect: Trewhela Williams 
Photo credits: Lorenzo Zandri

Location

London

Once utilised as stables and coach stations all around London, mews are historically significant properties highly sought out for their potential as modern homesteads. Such renovations, however, pose spatial challenges as mews usually leave little to no wiggle room when it comes to refurbishing or expansions. 

The minimalist approach of Elizabeth Mews overcame these challenges through the apt use of tonal and textural uniformity throughout the garage and ground floor refurbishment, incorporating the underused garage into a new open plan living space spanning from the street to the internal courtyard.   

Thanks to the opening front and its vertical timber louvres with integrated glazing, daylight now permeates the otherwise dark interiors while providing cross ventilation and privacy. 

Douglas Fir was the specified timber type as its warmth and grain richness enhance the uniform aesthetic of the entire property.  
 
Equipped with a light timber finish to colour match other design elements such as flooring and furnishings, the characteristic straight lines of Douglas Fir inform the minimalist style of the internal living spaces, while also providing a modern, understated addition to the build’s brick façade, where the finned vertical timber louvres replace the garage door in a perfect balance of light and privacy. 

The contemporary touch provided by the vertical timber louvres in a conservation area such as Elizabeth Mew’s was commended by the London planning authorities as the finned battening now stands as an example for anyone considering renovating similar properties. 

Contact our team of experts for further information about vertical timber louvres or other external shading options to discuss your own project requirements.