The history and architecture of the chapel strongly influenced the design. A church conversion is not a building that would naturally lend itself to being a private home. St. Mark’s, in particular, has details such as long, stained glass windows that straddle multiple floors, which made the design quite challenging.

In fact, the fenestration completely dictated the design. These unique features also affected the colour palette - we used some pretty strong colours as a nod to the stained glass, because, quite often, when you have a ‘design problem’, you can’t fight it. You must embrace it.

The stained glass windows, with their intricate designs and vibrant colours, were a central inspiration. We didn't want the interior to compete with these windows; rather, we sought to complement them. This led us to select a palette that incorporated deep, rich hues — colours that echo the tones found in the stained glass but are grounded enough to work in a contemporary residential setting. 

The biggest challenge ended up being the staircase and lifts which we had to incorporate. St. Mark’s is only half of this building - we redesigned the entire property to create two separate homes, and so St. Mark’s needed its own staircase and lift. Architecturally, there were a lot of complexities to fit these elements into the space.

I’m most proud of the extension outside the main perimeter of the building, which now acts as a guest cottage with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, massage room and gym. Integrating that new, clever space and turning it into an entertainment hub was a challenge that paid off. In buildings like this, the initial instinct would be to place the swimming pool underground. Instead, we designed it on the side of the property, to allow natural light to filter through.

The chapel, originally known as St John’s, was designed by architect Edward Blore, who was known for contributing to the design of Buckingham Palace. Thorp has done the chapel justice by creating a modern, liveable feel in a true Neoclassical architectural gem.