Turning a water tank into a modern home

Keeling House in Bethnal Green is one of the most iconic pieces of residential architecture London has, standing out as one of the best towers in the capital. The 16 storey block was completed in 1957 and the properties were all originally council houses. The building became the first piece of post-war council housing to receive Grade II* listed status in 1993. Between 1999 and 2001 it was given an award winning renovation and the homes became private residences. The newest addition to Keeling House is a very unique property. The roof was previously home to a water tank but this has now been transformed into a quirky penthouse flat. It has a modern design that preserves the industrial heritage of the tank.The project to transform the concrete and plywood water tank was very tricky. Initially the architect couple Brian and Ayesha Heron had trouble even making a purchase. The tank was put up for auction in 2008 with planning permission to turn it into a home already granted. In 2009 the couple managed to buy the tank for £77,000.The next problem was that the planning permission for the project began to run out. An extension was asked for but this took a year and a half to grant. Ultimately the work to finalise plans for the design and secure builders took until 2014.The finished flat is impressive. It offers 653 square foot of space across three floors. There is an open plan living room and kitchen area on the 17th floor. The 18th floor is home to a bedroom and bathroom. Several interesting space saving measures have been taken, including a unique take on bunk beds that has a single bed for a child under a double bed.The industrial past of the structure is celebrated with the polished concrete floors, Oriented Strand Board (OSB) panels for the walls and ceilings, and exposed pipes. The modern aesthetics are very interesting and give the home a contemporary feel.The project is definitely unique and adds another interesting project to the eye-catching residential architecture London is home too. Incredibly the work complements the whole of the building, making the new penthouse look like it was part of the original design.