Marie’s wardrobe

Marie’s wardrobe is a renovation project by Tsuruta Architects in London where a central staircase was replaced by a laser-cut custom made wooden structure.

Tsuruta Architects renovated a historical building in London where an impressive large staircase of the 20th century house made the circulation generous, light and airy, but its dominance compromised the entire layout. The challenge was to replace this once favoured staircase whilst enhancing its previous spacious quality.

Img.1 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.2 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.3 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.4 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.5 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.6 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.7 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.8 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.9 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.10 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.11 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.12 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.13 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.14 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.15 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.16 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Img.17 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

The perforated timber treads and risers, and balustrade of the new staircase let through light and air, but in a more compact overall configuration. Traces of engraved e-mail dialogues between the client and architect appear on the stair stringer and handrail suggesting that the contemporary time factor also supports the stair structure to serve future stories.

Img.18 Tsuruta Architects, Marie’s Wardrobe, London, 2016

Together with original windows and new plywood framework it was created a screen wall for two new bathrooms and a utility room. Light continues to flow into the stairwell via this screen wall and new external windows. A large, cantilevered balcony anchors the kitchen and dining to the back garden but registers only an ordinary steel railing detail. The new intervention lifts the age of the masonry against gravity and rebalances itself in its own weight.