Residential

Hays Mews

About this project

In 2017 AVILAStudio was appointed to provide structural engineering services for a residential refurbishment in the Mayfair area. The project required reconfiguration of internal spaces and of the front and rear façade openings to suit the client’s requirements.

The building had been reconstructed during works in 2010–2011 and featured a masonry load-bearing structure with flat-slab concrete floors for the first three levels and a traditional timber joist and steel frame floor at roof level.

Design challenge

The main challenge was to agree a strategy to partially demolish the concrete floors for the insertion of a post-tensioned stone stair, helicoidal in shape and centrally located with respect to the floor plan. The aim was better use of space and a central natural light channel.

The original stair was asymmetrically located — resulting in non-optimal upper-floor rooms — and lacked natural light. The design concept coupled a signature stone staircase with a rear façade full-height opening, contrasting the lightness of surrounding light with the solidity of plain stone.