A mews is a row of stable houses along a cobbled street, common in cities where they once housed horses near the grandest homes in the most desirable neighborhoods. Nowadays? Mews often are the grandest homes.
Take London, for example. Highly sought after and rarely historically protected, London's mews houses are usually free to undergo modernizing renovations, and—given the structures' original purpose—designers often find interesting architectural solutions. Here, 10 of our favorite rehabbed mews in London:
Above: Two mews houses in London's Primrose Hill, both remodeled by Robert Dye Architects—the first in 2008 and the neighboring house five years later. The designers retained the character of the original facades, along with the brick, and updated the rest of the materials. Photograph by JCT Photography via Dezeen.
Above: An emerald green mews facade at the back of textile designer Neisha Crosland's garden. Hear from Neisha's garden designer Sean Walter in A Purple and Green Planting Scheme: Neisha Crosland's Spring Garden. Photograph by Christine Chang Hanway.
Above: Cassion Castle Architects renovated a mews house in east London as a studio for a portrait photographer. The structure needed to be rebuilt nearly from scratch, following an unfortunate 1990s-era remodel. Photography by Killian O'Sullivan via Dezeen.
Above: In London's Islington neighborhood, Scape Architects added light and storage space to a 648-square-foot former 19th-century coach house. Photograph by Peter Marlow via Dwell.
Above: A winter vine spans three mews houses in London's Pembridge neighborhood; the middle house sports an enviable neutral color palette. Photograph via Pinterest.
Above: Belsize Architects faced a unique challenge with this home in Regent's Park; the clients wanted their home to be as light and modern as possible, but the neighborhood wanted a historically appropriate facade. At right, notice the design solution of using wood slats on windows and doors for privacy while allowing light to filter in. Photography via E-Architect.
Above: An 18th-century mews in South Kensington, London, renovated by owner and designer Ersin Sirer. The proprietor did more than just let in light; he significantly expanded the house, and in August 2013, its offering price was $9.2 million. Photograph via WSJ.
Above: In the Hackney neighborhood of north London, Form_art Architects added a tiny courtyard before the entrance of this mews house so residents could experience a few feet of garden through full-height windows. Photography by Timothy Soar via Dezeen.
Above: In London's Hyde Park neighborhood, Andy Martin Architects created a dramatic conservatory facade using a single sheet of glass on the roof. Photography by James Merrell via Knstrct.
Above: Jonathan Tuckey Design was charged with maximizing storage and living space in a three-story Victorian mews belonging to a former submariner. The designer retained the Victorian facade and even the original stable doors. For the whole story, see The Life Aquatic: A London Mews House for a Submariner.
Keep exploring the front of the house. See:
- Paint Colors for Iron Gates and Fences
- 10 Modern Houses Gone to the Dark Side
- Architects' Roundup: 10 Landscapes Designed Around a Single Tree
- 5 Favorites: British Front Doors with Style
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