The top two floors of a former merchants house in Covent Garden have been extensively renovated and remodelled by Carmody Groarke to create a family-sized penthouse stretching across the third and four stories of the Grade II-listed building.The lower level of the penthouse apartment, which accommodates the entrance lobby and bedrooms, has been lined throughout with walnut-panelled joinery.In contrast, the upper floors open-plan living takes advantage of the loft spaces high ceilings and views over Covent Garden Market. Large skylights have been placed between the original roof trusses.Advertisement Source:Johan DehlinTo the rear of the landlocked site, a new rooftop pavilion, designed to sit lightly on top of the brick annex, extends the loft space to house a kitchen and sheltered roof terrace. The 14m-long pavilion takes the form of a pitched roof extension, with large openings that mirror the window patterns below, and is constructed from 25mm-thick solid-plate sanded aluminium.The sheet metal plates, chosen for their lightness, appear as if they lean against one another as if they are balanced. Internally, the kitchen, also crafted from sanded stainless steel, links visually to the exterior treatment of the extra storey.Furniture has been designed in collaboration with a team of makers. Other materials used include American walnut, heartwood ash and silver travertine, which was handpicked from quarried Italian silver travertine blocks. Each stone slab was dry-laid and selected to define the kitchen, bathrooms and terraces. Source:Johan DehlinClients viewWe had an ambitious vision for this apartment: a spacious, light-filled home with high ceilings, outdoor space, and seamless functionality. Collaborating with Carmody Groarke was an extraordinary experience. Working within the constraints of a challenging historic site, they brought their expertise to reimagine the space in ways we never imagined. They unlocked patterns of our family life, shaping an inspiring home. Their ability to translate our meticulous brief into a beautifully resolved design one that balances minimalist precision with warmth and adaptability was remarkable. This project was a true collaboration, with their creative expertise guiding the overall vision while embracing our deep involvement. The result is a home that continues to reveal new layers to us every day, fully realising our vision and rewarding the time, effort, and passion invested in it.Private clientProject dataCompletion 2025Gross internal floor area 450mConstruction cost UndisclosedClient PrivateArchitect Carmody GroarkeStructural engineer Price & MyersMEP consultant P3RCost consultant Brendan Hennessy AssociatesAcoustic engineer Sandy BrownPavilion fabrication Littlehampton WeldingPavilion engineer FormatJoinery Young & NorgateLighting design AntumbraPlanning consultant Gerald EveHeritage consultant Donald Insall AssociatesFire engineer Fire DynamicsMain contractor London Projects