Mosaic Rooms
We speak with architects A Small Studio about their renovation of Mosaic Rooms — a cultural space in London showcasing contemporary Arab art — where Plykea supplied fronts for IKEA kitchen and wardrobe cabinets, creating a cohesive, unified look throughout the building.
Tell us about the project and building.
We completed a landmark two‑year renovation of Mosaic Rooms, transforming The Tower House in South Kensington, London, into a fully accessible cultural institution dedicated to contemporary arts from the Arab world.
The project reimagined a prominent Victorian building, formerly a mix of offices, residential units, and commercial spaces, into a unified home for Mosaic Rooms.
The renovation created a diverse range of spaces, including an artists’ residency studio, a makerspace, a PlayLab for creative learning, lecture and workshop rooms, a podcast suite, AV-equipped galleries, a main gallery, an expanded bookstore, and a welcoming entry hall.
How would you describe the look and feel you wanted to achieve for the different spaces?
The design balances a calm, contemporary aesthetic with warmth and inclusivity, reflecting the charity’s mission of openness and cultural engagement.
Spaces are organized into ‘wet, semi‑wet, and dry’ areas—from clean galleries to messy studios. The consistent use of Plykea becomes a defining material thread throughout the renovation, creating cohesion while allowing each area to keep its own distinct character.
What influenced your Plykea material choices?
To achieve both economy and flexibility, the design combines Smile Plastics countertops—selected for their environmental credentials—with Plykea plywood fronts, precisely cut to create custom fronts, for IKEA Pax wardrobes and Metod (equivalent to Sektion in the US) kitchen cabinets, in a wide range of colors.
This material system allows each room to have its own character while remaining part of a unified whole. The color palette, inspired by the Palestinian landscape, was tailored to the functional and aesthetic needs of each space.
How is Plykea used throughout the building?
Plykea cabinetry appears across three key areas of the building, creating a consistent material language while allowing each space to develop its own character.
Ground floor bookstore: Plykea Fenix Rosso Jaipur plywood fronts were paired with IKEA kitchen cabinets to create a warm plum-toned environment that supports quiet browsing without competing with the main gallery. Ash-veneered plywood sheets were also supplied for the contractor to fabricate the bookstore shelving. A similar effect can be achieved using birch- or maple-veneered plywood.
The accompanying kitchenette features calm Formica fronts with matching J-profile handles.
First-floor PlayLab: Inspired by the colors of the Palestinian landscape, Plykea fronts were used with IKEA Pax units to create vibrant, multicolored storage with matching J-profile handles, showcasing the breadth of the Plykea color palette.
A darker Fenix Blu Shaba finish is used in the ‘messy’ kitchenette, paired with ash J-profile handles. The anti-fingerprint surface of Fenix makes it particularly suited to this high-use space.
Additional IKEA Pax storage is used in the workshop area, finished in subtle Formica Soft White with ash J-profile handles.
Second-floor Salon: Designed as a neutral, event-ready suite with kitchenette, accessible bathroom, and flexible storage, the Salon combines IKEA Pax wardrobes with IKEA kitchen cabinets. Plykea ash-veneered plywood fronts and ash J-profile handles unify the two cabinet systems, allowing them to sit seamlessly alongside one another. A similar look can be achieved using birch- or maple-veneered plywood.
What were the standout features that defined the project?
Yes, several standout features were central to the project’s success:
- New public entrance and arrival garden: The main entrance was relocated to Earl’s Court Road, creating a welcoming arrival space with a stepped amphitheatre.
- Jesmonite board-game inlays: Integrated into the stone amphitheatre steps, these custom inlays—drawn from historic Arab-influenced games—encourage moments of pause, play, and gathering.
- Commissioned artwork: A piece by Dima Srouji, Four Moons from Home, anchors the arrival room, enhancing the space’s cultural and visual identity. The artwork was commissioned by Rachael Jarvis during her time as director of Mosaic Rooms.
- Flexible interior system: Plykea cabinetry throughout kitchens, storage, and workspaces unifies the building.
- Spatial hierarchy: Organising spaces as ‘wet, semi‑wet, and dry’ ensures each function—from galleries and workshops to makerspaces—is fit for purpose while supporting a continuous, cohesive narrative.
These features together transform The Tower House into a fully unified, accessible, and welcoming cultural institution.
How did you find working with Plykea?
We confidently and happily turned to Plykea for this large project because we have collaborated with them on numerous previous commissions, all of which have been fantastic.
Plykea is responsive, professional, committed to quality, and always delivers. Cabinetry was a significant component of this renovation, and we had no doubt that Plykea would be our greatest ally in translating our design vision into a practical, buildable, and cost-effective reality.
Their system allowed us to adapt custom solutions onto IKEA cabinetry, giving us the flexibility we needed across a very complex brief, while also ensuring long-term ease of maintenance for our client.
We genuinely enjoy working with Plykea and look forward to future collaborations. We loved working with the full team. Special thanks to Leah, Laura, Kristine, Rob, Pip and Anne.
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Whether it’s a commercial renovation, office fit-out, or custom kitchen project, Plykea can provide custom fronts for IKEA cabinets and more—bringing your vision to life.