1 Cobham Mews Studios

The building is on "an awkward triangular plot" and is bordered by the back gardens of other properties on all sides.^[4] Chipperfield said that the design of the building "was totally determined by this condition".^[3] Additionally, because of a planning requirement, the design was not allowed to overlook the site's neighbours.^[4]

These restrictions led to a building where most of the daylight comes from rooflights and small courtyards.^[3] The design is inspired by Victorian artist studios and Japanese architecture,^[5] and has been described by Historic England as minimalist and modernist.^[1] The building is laid out in two units with a symmetrical steel and glass brick frame, a shared entrance, and a dividing concrete wall.^[5][6]

The interior was simply designed with "carefully detailed, high-quality materials", according to the Twentieth Century Society (C20).^[7] Notable details include the exposed concrete stairs, large oak doors and metal handrails.^[7] The interior has remained largely the same since the building's completion, with some lights being replaced by identical new fittings and screens added to create quiet, private areas.^[1]

The site was previously a scrapyard.^[3] The building was designed and built between 1987 and 1989 for Derwent Valley Property Developments and was the first complete building by David Chipperfield Architects;^[1] it was their architecture studio and office until 2011,^[5] when they moved to premises in Waterloo.^[3] Chipperfield's practice initially only leased one of the two units, but later also leased the other.^[1] Since 2011, it has been used by landscape architects Gustafson Porter + Bowman.^[3]

In 2024, a planning application to change the building's use to a residential dwelling was submitted,^[3] with plans to convert the building to four separate residential units.^[7] In January 2025, C20 submitted a listing application with the support of Chipperfield, saying they "[support] the conversion in principle" but noting that the building being listed would ensure any work was "sympathetic to the heritage of the building."^[7] Historic England designated Cobham Mews Studios a grade II listed building on 14 August 2025, noting its architectural interest and its significance as the first complete building by Chipperfield.^[1] The building was also the first listing for a building designed by Chipperfield.^[8]