Compayne Gardens

Nick Baker Architects were appointed by COHABS to refurbish and extend 61 Compayne Gardens, a historic townhouse within the South Hampstead Conservation Area in London. The project involves the comprehensive reconfiguration of an existing building previously arranged as three separate residential units, transforming it into a contemporary co-living environment while retaining the character and proportions of the original property.

Internally, the existing flats are comprehensively reconfigured to create a series of six-bedroom co-living units organised around shared kitchens, dining spaces, and communal living areas. The layouts were rationalised to improve circulation, access to daylight, and the relationship between communal and private accommodation, creating a more coherent and functional arrangement throughout the building.

Many of the property’s original decorative features are retained and restored as part of the wider refurbishment strategy, including historic joinery, cornicing, and internal detailing. These retained elements provide continuity with the building’s historic character and are carefully integrated alongside new interventions and upgraded services.

The project combines planning permission for the roof extension with permitted development works for the internal refurbishment, establishing a pragmatic approach to the adaptation of the existing building. Currently under construction, the scheme will deliver a high-quality co-living environment that balances restoration, extension, and long-term residential use within a sensitive conservation area context.

The building had fallen into a state of disrepair following a series of incremental alterations over time. The proposals seek to restore coherence to the property through a coordinated programme of refurbishment, internal reorganisation, and extension works, balancing the requirements of modern shared living with the architectural character of the existing townhouse.

A new roof extension was developed through the planning process to provide an additional two-bedroom unit, carefully integrated into the upper levels of the building. The extension is designed as a discreet addition within the wider roofscape of the conservation area, adopting a restrained architectural language that complements the host building while remaining legible as a contemporary intervention.