Warm and tactile materials help create a domestic feel inside this north London homeless shelter, which Holland Harvey Architects has created inside a former supermarket.
Shelter from the Storm is located in Islington, north London and provides 42 beds for the homeless, as well as freshly cooked meals and rehabilitative support.
The shelter ? which takes over a disused supermarket ? has been designed by Holland Harvey Architects with interiors that evoke "sensitivity, domesticity and warmth".

"The homeless sector was unchartered territory for us, so we worked closely with the charity to understand the sensitivities of the guests and intricacies of the charity's operational requirements," the practice told Dezeen.
"We were shocked to learn that at any one time, up to a third of the guests are in full-time employment ? the guests are ordinary people who want to feel welcome and safe," it continued. "Every design decision aimed to make the shelter welcoming and familiar whilst allowing for privacy and a sense of ownership wherever possible."

Terracotta-coloured tiles have been used to clad a handful of walls and chunky prep counters in the shelter's kitchen and dining room, offering a warm contrast to the building's exposed concrete shell.
Wooden chairs surround each of the tables, which are dressed with kitsch patterned tablecloths. Spherical pendant lamps and potted plants have also been dotted around as decor.

Timber floorboards ru...