Trueman Court Luxury Serviced Apartments by EK Design is reenvisioned from a 19th-century brewery in Liverpool. During the renovation, EK Design employed an artistic approach to spatial design, striking a balance between tradition and modernity. Six distinctive apartment themes were carefully curated, creating a “home-like” retreat for travelers while ensuring the long-term operational vitality and profitability of the project. Photography by Yushi Li, Mao Hua, JAGA Group Developments

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Design Challenge

A few minutes’ walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station leads to the block where Trueman Court is located, away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

The historic traces of this cluster of buildings from different eras left a lasting impression on Mao Hua, the chief designer, when she first visited the site in 2018: “This is a typical traditional European building with a beautiful red brick facade. What’s unique is that the entrance isn’t on the roadside; it’s tucked around the back, creating a very tranquil atmosphere.”

As a registered Grade II listed building, the structure constructed in the mid-19th century came with numerous preservation constraints, making renovation particularly challenging. For EK Design, a firm from China, navigating the stringent local regulations and cultural differences required adaptability to ensure the design seamlessly integrated into its local context.

Site-specific Solutions

When EK Design joined the project, Trueman Court’s overall positioning had already been established, along with its structure and functional layout. However, the space lacked the aesthetic and experiential qualities expected of serviced apartments. Recognizing this, the client invited Mao Hua and her team to reimagine the interior.

As Nathan Chan explains: “The design is everything so to speak. It is what the guests see and experience, touch and feel. This is why it’s so important to have an interior designer involved in such projects. Many seem to neglect the interior design aspect, instead opting for pure functionality and practicality alone. Fortunately, we have achieved both with the help of EK Design.”

While the building itself was not large, its structural complexity—varied layouts, ceiling heights, and its historical nature—meant that large-scale modifications were not feasible. Thus, how to work within these constraints to maximize space utilization and craft a distinctive experience for each apartment became the key challenge for the design team.

What initially seemed like limitations became opportunities for creative breakthroughs. By embracing the historic red brick structure, EK Design meticulously analyzed and restructured the spatial layout, uncovering the unique potential of each apartment.

Mao Hua believes that artistic space design is not merely about displaying artwork or arranging furnishings but about treating the space itself as a piece of art—a dialogue between space and aesthetic.

Project information
Project name: Trueman Court Luxury Serviced Apartments
Location: Liverpool, UK
Area: 800 sqm
Client: JAGA Group Developments
Design firm: EK Design
Photography: Yushi Li, Mao Hua, JAGA Group Developments