Loft conversion for Real Homes magazine - Zminkowska De Boise Architects

Photography Chris Snook

With birch plywood used, this project offers great sustainability and shows its versatility as a material.

Chris was commissioned to shoot Lucy and Jack’s unique loft conversion for Real Homes magazine. The architects responsible for this project were north London based practice Zminkowska De Boise, who offer architectural services for all scales and all stages of projects from conception to completion throughout London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

The brief was to capture how the space has been transformed, from a one level maisonette into a two floor family home with the addition of the new loft space.

The project was first class and the use of birch plywood throughout the loft conversation gave it an enchanting warm sensibility. Splashes of colour used in the tiles and exposed beams complemented the ply and the white walls.

As it was photographed for a magazine, Chris restricted himself to using a 24MM TSE for the wide shots and utilised the shift setting of this lens. He also used his brand-new 50mm TSE for the detailed imagery which always comes in handy for editorial.  Lighting was kept at a minimal and only used in the kitchen to make the floor tiles pop.

With birch plywood used throughout, the project offers great sustainability and showcases its versatility as a material. Natural lighting was also maximised with the insertion of five pitched rooflights into the existing roof, two large floor to ceiling windows and a flat rooflight in the dormer.

The project was shortlisted for the NLA Don’t Move, Improve!! awards and also featured in Real Homes magazine and website.