Wells Coates, a pioneering figure in British pre-war Modernism, designed the top floor of his innovative and Grade 2* listed 10 Palace Gate as a terrace crowned by concrete pergolas. The British weather limited the terrace’s use, prompting our client to commission its transformation into a penthouse.
Drawing inspiration from a close dialogue with Sherban Cantacuzino, Coates’s biographer, we developed an architectural scheme based around developing contemporary technologies that shared Coates’ interest in the sleek lines of cruise ships and the precision of yacht design.
Drawing inspiration from a close dialogue with Sherban Cantacuzino, Coates’s biographer, we developed an architectural scheme based around developing contemporary technologies that shared Coates’ interest in the sleek lines of cruise ships and the precision of yacht design.
In that spirit we developed a roof system featuring triple-glazed skylights that perched above the pergola, with frames discreetly hidden by the original beams. Insulated timber shutters, nestled between the concrete beams, could be adjusted to control both the light and the sense of enclosure, allowing the space to adapt to changing weather conditions.
The design respected the façade, with its characteristic slotted cruise-ship windows and perforated pergola roof, while introducing a contemporary insulated, glass-enclosed living space. Throughout, we ensured that every detail remained slim and lightweight, in keeping with the refined elegance of Coates’s original vision. Our goal was to create a modern intervention that seamlessly complemented the building’s original philosophy.
| Client | Richard Collins |
| Collaborators | Sherban Cantacuzino, historian |
| Location | 10 Palace Gate, London |
| Sector | Listed Buildings |
| Size | 200 sqm |
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