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PROJECT MEZZANINES How
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In a converted chapel in south-east London architecture practice Nikjoo (nikjoo.co.uk) designed a mezzanine encased in birch plywood with a kitchen below. See more of the project overleaf
P l a y i n g t o t h e g a l l e r y
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Put overhead space to good use by creating an extra level. It’s a clever way of expanding your home without increasing its footprint
If you have extra-high ceilings or an unused loft, it might be possible to create a whole new room by converting this overhead space into a mezzanine. This is an intermediate floor that slots in between two storeys, or between the upper storey and the roof. It can be a simple, lightweight structure, or something more solid and multifunctional. Either way, it will help maximise the floor area in a new-build or renovation, creating extra room for a spare bedroom or home office.
The right place
It’s no coincidence that mezzanines are often found in renovation projects, particularly converted buildings such as schools, warehouses and barns, as older buildings are usually better equipped to deal with the extra weight of the structure. ‘Older buildings tend to have robust foundations, so you can justify the load increase,’ says Brian Constant of structural engineering firm Constant (constantsd.com). This doesn’t mean mezzanines are impossible in new-builds, but the roof may need to support some of the load, which can limit your options.
Getting the measurements right is crucial, particularly with tight dimensions, or you could end up with a space that feels cramped. As a general rule of thumb, a minimum head height of 2.2m is recommended both above and below your mezzanine, although you can make some allowances for sloping ceilings. Leave plenty of room for a staircase and don’t forget to account for the depth of the new floor, which may be as much as 25cm.
RIGHT Nikjoo designed the deck as a home workspace with a desk built into the balustrade. Cantilevers help to maximise the size of the platform. The project cost £450,000, of which the mezzanine was around £48,000 BELOW This conversion of a school hall in Greenwich, south-east London, cost £235,000 and was designed by Paper House Project. A bespoke steel mezzanine and staircase, which cost around £20,000, creates an extra living area beneath the roof. A retractable skylight allows the space to also serve as a sundeck. The fluted balustrades act as privacy screens without blocking out the light. (paperhouseproject.co.uk)
ABOVE This mezzanine forms part of a Devon barn conversion by architecture practice Casswell Bank. The entire project cost around £140,000. The balustrades are made from wooden spindles salvaged from the barn’s old hay racks. (casswellbank.com) Follow the rules
Unless it’s in a listed building, a mezzanine won’t require planning permission. But you will need to comply with Building Regulations, particularly regarding fire safety, which can be hard to navigate. ‘There are a lot of very complicated rules about whether a mezzanine is a separate space, or whether it’s part of the room that it overhangs,’ says Brian. This can have major implications for the type of structure and materials you can use, so it’s worth discussing with an architect early on in the process.
Party walls are another important consideration. If the mezzanine will be attached to a shared wall, you need to notify your neighbour before you embark on any work. If they don’t provide written consent within 14 days, the next step is a legal process that is certain to cause delays if you aren’t prepared for it.
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Design for living
Mezzanines are commonly used as bedrooms, particularly in open-plan homes or studio apartments, or to create a cosy snug or home office above the main living and dining space. Another popular option is to divide up a bedroom, so that a sleeping area is separate from a study or play space. Other configurations are possible too, but it’s best to avoid rooms that may involve too much weight, such as bathrooms or libraries.
Whatever you are planning, it’s wise to consider whether the space could serve another function in future and how easily it could be adapted if so. A spare bedroom that can be repurposed as a home office or classroom is highly valuable, as the Covid-19 pandemic showed. ‘You have to be quite clear about how you want to use the space,’ says architect James Davies of Paper House Project (paperhouseproject.co.uk), who recalls a case where the owners needed to retrofit a stair gate as they hadn’t considered that the design had to work for young children. ‘If a mezzanine doesn’t end up being used as you originally thought, you might wish you had done things differently.’
Privacy needs to be considered too. Unlike separate storeys, mezzanines offer connectedness to the rooms they sit above. While this can contribute to an overall sense of spaciousness, it also means there’s no acoustic separation. If this is a problem – for instance, if you’re planning a bedroom over a living room – then an open level such as this may not be the right solution for you.
ABOVE AND LEFT By installing a mezzanine bedroom over the living spaces of this loft apartment in Genoa, Italy, architecture studio Dodi Moss was able to create room for a new bathroom, concealed underneath. The structure is designed to blend with the rest of the interior, so the walls are rendered in lime plaster. The project cost around £241,000. (dodimoss.eu)
Materials matter
The type of structure that you select will have a big impact on the look and feel of the new level, so it’s important to involve a structural engineer as early in the process as possible. ‘The structural engineer will probably have just as much input on the aesthetics and the design as the architect,’ says James.
Timber can be used to create a structure that looks and feels like a solid piece of joinery, with opportunities for integrated shelving and storage areas. Steel mezzanines can look surprisingly lightweight and work well in industrial-style spaces, though steel flooring will always come with some bounce, especially if the panels incorporate perforations. Glass elements are also worth considering as they offer benefits in terms of light and visibility, but they will usually need to be fire-rated. If supporting columns and beams can’t be concealed, they can be treated as design features instead.
Finally, the more off-the-shelf components that you can include, the more affordable your mezzanine will be.
LEFT Francisco Sutherland Architects used a mezzanine to create an extra bedroom in a flat in Barbican, central London. Pivoting screens allow privacy for the new sleeping deck, which is accessed via a space-saving paddle staircase. The project cost £50,000. (franciscosutherland.com) BELOW LEFT AND RIGHT This house renovation in Hampstead, north London, involved converting a dark rear courtyard into a new kitchen and dining room. A mezzanine was installed above, but was designed by M.OS Architects to be set back from the walls, so that light would still be able to filter all the way down to the ground floor. The entire project cost £250,000. (mos-a.com)
What lies beneath
The space underneath a new level is just as important as what’s on top. With a lower ceiling, this space will take on a new, more intimate character. In an open-plan living and dining room, for example, the mezzanine might serve as a room divider, separating a spacious dining area from a more secluded kitchen. In a bedroom, the base of the mezzanine structure could double as part of a desk or bench seat. Alternatively, a concealed bathroom or storage area could be slotted in beneath.
Getting the lighting right is crucial too. Consider leaving a gap between the edge of the wall and the mezzanine, so that light can filter down from above. Adding skylights can be a useful approach, but bear in mind that these will require planning approval.
ABOVE When he was asked to convert a Devon barn into an artist’s studio, architectural designer Thomas Randall-Page created a fully enclosed mezzanine to create an intimate work area in an otherwise open-plan warehouse. The cork-insulated Winter Studio can be heated independently from the rest of the space. (thomasrandallpage.com)
ACCESS ALL AREAS
Make sure the stairs to your mezzanine are both stylish and practical, says architect Alex Nikjoo (nikjoo.co.uk)
● The simplest and most comfortable access is a standard staircase, but if space is tight you might need a spiral stair, paddle stair or a fixed loft ladder with handrails. Always keep practicality in mind, though, as if you’re using the room often you’ll want to ensure easy access. ● Think about the position of your staircase. A staircase along the side will help to maximise the floor area, while positioning one in the middle of the mezzanine will divide the area into two distinct spaces. ● Ensure that your access meets Part K of the Building Regulations. You should aim for a minimum head height of 2m, but you can reduce this to 1.9m over half the width of the stair if needed. ● The choice of materials will affect the overall aesthetic. A contrasting material or colour can help create a statement feature, while matching it to the wider design will help a mezzanine blend into the background. Glass and steel give a sleek, modern look, while plywood or grating panels lend an industrial tone. Choose timber for a simple, warm feel. ● Accent lighting will enhance your design, so consider illuminating the underside of the handrail or adding floor washer lamps or LED tape to add style and character.
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