Creating a Place to Pause
A modern two-bedroom apartment within Battersea Power Station, overlooking the historic brickwork of the original power station and out towards the river beyond. Floor-to-ceiling glazing runs the length of the apartment's winter garden, creating one of the development's most distinctive architectural features while filling the space with natural light throughout the day.
Paul bought the apartment after moving to London to work as a doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The location was a large part of the appeal. Close enough to cycle to work, run along the river or cross into Chelsea within minutes, Battersea Power Station offered the combination of architecture, facilities and riverside living he had been looking for.
The apartment itself worked well from the beginning, but the winter garden presented a challenge. Unlike a balcony, it was fully enclosed. Unlike a conventional room, it had no obvious purpose. It was a space Paul found himself walking through every day without ever quite knowing how best to use it.
The Challenge
Winter gardens are one of the defining features of many apartments within the Battersea Power Station development, but they can be surprisingly difficult spaces to furnish successfully.
The narrow footprint means circulation remains important. Adding too much furniture can quickly make the space feel cramped, while leaving it completely empty often results in it becoming little more than a corridor connecting one end of the apartment to the other.
At the same time, the uninterrupted glazing provides some of the best views in the apartment. Looking across the power station, the river and the changing skyline beyond, the winter garden felt like a space that deserved to be enjoyed rather than simply passed through.
The challenge wasn't finding more furniture. It was finding a way to give the space purpose without compromising the openness that made it special in the first place.
Space Agent Recommendation
Rather than trying to turn the winter garden into another room, the approach here was deliberately restrained.
Positioning the Arny Armchair at the far end of the space creates a natural destination without interrupting movement through the apartment. Its compact proportions keep the winter garden feeling open while providing a comfortable place to sit, read, enjoy a coffee or simply watch the changing light throughout the day.
Alongside it, the Fresca Side Table provides a practical surface for books, drinks and everyday essentials without introducing unnecessary bulk. Its compact footprint allows the seating area to feel complete while preserving the openness of the space around it.
A large olive tree introduces a softer natural element that balances the steel, glass and brick surrounding it, helping the winter garden feel connected to both the apartment and the landscape beyond.
Nothing here attempts to compete with the view. Instead, the furniture simply provides a reason to stop and enjoy it.
The Result
The winter garden remains exactly what it was designed to be — a space defined by light, views and openness.
The route through the apartment remains clear, the glazing remains unobstructed and the architecture continues to take centre stage. What has changed is how the space is used.
What was once simply a passageway now feels like somewhere to spend time. A place for a morning coffee before work, a quiet moment after a long shift, a spot for reading, reflection or simply watching the city beyond the river.
The intervention is modest, but the effect is significant.
The winter garden no longer feels like an awkward extra space attached to the apartment. It feels like one of the most enjoyable parts of it.
Space Report Notes
Pieces used in this space
A compact upholstered armchair designed to provide comfortable seating without overwhelming smaller spaces. Ideal for reading corners, apartments and spaces where maintaining openness is important.
A compact side table with a small footprint, designed to provide everyday practicality while preserving valuable floor space in tighter layouts.
Space Reports is a recurring series from Mallet & Plane exploring how thoughtful furniture with a smaller footprint can help create calmer, more comfortable homes.
