London Atelier reorganises Victorian house to create multi-level apartment
UK studio London Atelier has updated the interior of a dilapidated terraced property, adding a new staircase, and a folding ladder for access to the roof (+ slideshow).
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_16.jpg)
London Atelier refurbished the top three floors of the five-storey property in Maida Vale, reconfiguring the internal spaces around a central staircase to better suit its new occupants.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
"The project involved total removal of all internal elements of the building as it was originally in a very poor state of repair," said the studio, which named the project Nossa Casa.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
The home is accessed via an existing staircase from the building's front door on the ground floor.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_15.jpg)
Upstairs, partition walls were shifted and removed to create an open-plan kitchen, living and dining room, and fit four bedrooms and three bathrooms into the two levels above.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
An eclectic mix of furniture styles was chosen for the living space, which also includes built-in storage units to maximise useable space.
Kitchen units were custom-designed by the studio and stainless-steel elements were included to give "a light industrial touch".
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
"The new suspended ceiling above the kitchen features recessed lights and conceals the structural element required for enabling the open plan," London Atelier said.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
Tall thin radiators sit at each side of the large windows that overlook the back of the property, while a pair of large sliding wooden panels separate the repositioned stair core from the main living space.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_13.jpg)
The new staircase winds up the centre of the building and is surrounded by a grey banister. Sections of the vertical wooden struts are extended up to create higher barriers that are design to create a smoother transition between the different levels.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
The master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe are found on the second level, along with a smaller bedroom and a separate WC.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
Two bedrooms are located on either side of the storey above, with a shared bathroom positioned opposite the staircase – all within the confines of the sloping roof.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
At the top of the building, a custom-designed ladder swings down from beneath a skylight to provide access to a roof terrace.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
Milled from solid aluminium using a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine, the ladder features hand-stitched leather grips and is designed so its treads are angled when folded away.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
"It allows plenty of light through the rooflights and provides discreet access to the roof garden," said the studio.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_ladder.jpg)
A pale colour palette was used throughout the interior, along with wooden flooring that is replaced with carpet on the stair treads.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
The exterior of the terraced building was repaired and repainted to match the character of the existing London stock brickwork and original Victorian details.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_468_14.jpg)
"The old and the new sit side by side together and the house is given a new lease of life," said London Atelier.
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_1.gif)
![Nossa Casa by London Atelier](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2015/06/Nossa-Casa-by-London-Atelier_dezeen_2.gif)