HEIGHT ADVANTAGE

In a former matchstick factory in east London, Hackney-based EBBA Architects has used ash to make an industrial-style loft apartment feel more homely. A new wooden staircase connects a double-height living and dining area to a mezzanine floor above, but also integrates a desk, allowing the landing to double up as a workspace. Meanwhile, a two-storey-high shelving unit creates plenty of space for storing books, ornaments and other curiosities.

Studio director Benni Allan hopes the vertical lines in these new elements will increase the feeling of volume in the home (eb-ba.co).