Balfour Place walnut stairs

This interior redesign begins and ends in a wood ribbon, and is a case of quite literally ‘tying the interior together’ in a single unique gesture.

Continue reading below
Our Featured Videos
Balfour Place kitchen island

Created by KHBT (images by Johannes Marburg) and set in London, this lovely flat is modest and minimalist in almost every way – simple white surfaces from floor to wall to ceiling, and toned-down details … except for one wonderfully-warm stretch of wood that winds throughout.

Balfour Place hallway

It starts (or ends, depending on your perspective) as the sides and surface of the kitchen counter, then snakes through the hall and finally connects to the bathtub at the other end.

Balfour Place bathroom

This use of walnut reflects their desire to reference traditional high-end apartments of the area. It also plays off of the potentially-awkward, higher-level entry from which occupants and visitors have to step down to access main areas.

Balfour Place bedroom

“A rundown apartment in prestigious Mayfair has been transformed into an inhabitable sculpture. Formerly there were 2 separate residential units which have been connected with a space defining spine. Due to head height restrictions of the communal staircase running across this spine various steps and level changes had to be overcome. This lead to the main concept, a meandering ribbon which becomes an inherent part of all main functions of the flat: Kitchen, Stair, Circulation and Bathroom. Made out of precious massive walnut timber it creates a fitting character to the area and a contrasting element to the white flooring.”

Balfour Place drawing
Balfour Place kitchen

About the studio:

“KHBT is a creative studio set up by Karsten Huneck and Bernd Trümpler in London and Berlin. KHBT has consistently created spatial works of local and international significance which are published widely as well as winning various awards such as the prestigious Young Architect Of The Year Award (YAYA)in 2009 where KHBT was gaining the first ever ‘special commendation’ in the competitions history. Karsten and Bernd are also partners of the experimental architectural network osa_office for subversive architecture which acts as a platform for spatial research that feeds into the practice.”