EK Design has transformed a former 19th-century brewery in Liverpool into Trueman Court Luxury Serviced Apartments. Located just minutes from Liverpool Lime Street Station, the property sits quietly behind the street, shielded from city noise. Architect Mao Hua and her team at EK Design approached the space with a clear goal: create a home-like atmosphere for travelers while delivering long-term value for the client.
When Mao Hua first visited the site in 2018, the building’s red brick facade and tucked-away entrance left a strong impression. The structure, listed as Grade II, came with strict preservation guidelines. Renovating it required sensitivity to both local regulation and cultural context. While based in China, EK Design adapted its approach to meet British standards, maintaining the building’s historical qualities while introducing new spatial experiences.
Reshaping Through Constraint
The overall layout and structural design had already been defined before EK Design entered the project. However, the interiors lacked character. The client invited Mao Hua’s team to elevate the design with a creative approach that respected the architecture while enhancing the guest experience. Nathan Chan, part of the development team, emphasized the importance of interior design, stating that guest perception hinges on what they see, touch, and feel.
The building’s size posed limitations, but its irregular ceiling heights and varying layouts became an opportunity for creative exploration. Rather than attempting major structural changes, the team studied the spatial potential of each unit. By embracing the red brick bones of the original factory, they developed six design narratives across thirteen apartments, each with a distinct identity.
Art as Spatial Framework
Mao Hua treats each space as an artwork in itself. Instead of prioritizing decoration, she uses form, material, and light to create depth and comfort. EK Design avoided any pursuit of superficial luxury. Instead, they envisioned the apartments as a kind of time capsule, contemporary spaces infused with echoes of the past.
One unit, “Back to the Future,” plays with tension between eras. It uses clean lines, exposed beams, and authentic textures to frame the contrast. A preserved ceiling column painted red sits inside a circular white bookshelf, anchoring the room with clarity.
Another apartment, “Art Gallery,” preserves carved wood ceiling and wall panels. The design converts the doorframe into a visual threshold, while screens create a subtle spatial loop linking the living, sleeping, and wardrobe areas. Despite the limited space, it flows naturally through form and proportion.
In “The Root,” Eastern references meet Western architecture. The concept draws from the traditional Luban Lock puzzle, integrating the kitchen, bar, and living area in a continuous movement defined by white stone surfaces. The compact second bedroom sits in a raised niche near the corner, lit softly by filtered light across wooden panels.
A semi-underground unit titled “The Old Red” uses retro tones, ceiling-adjacent windows, and warm lighting to maximize brightness. “The Box” defines space through a wood-clad structure, dividing living and sleeping areas in a compact footprint.
The attic apartment, “Cabin in the Woods,” works around a dramatic skylight, using floor and ceiling shifts to build zones and echo the feel of a childhood treehouse.
Design That Drives Results
From concept to completion, EK Design worked across cultures, regulations, and architectural history. Over four years, the team translated their vision into a project that now draws high occupancy and positive feedback. Their design generated more than just visual interest, it delivered a spatial product that guests and owners recognize as valuable.
Nathan Chan notes that guest reviews consistently mention the apartments’ spaciousness, style, and thoughtful layout. The team’s attention to materials, proportions, and lighting created atmospheres that feel inviting yet original. Each apartment tells a different story, but they all share a commitment to spatial clarity and comfort.
Mao Hua credits Liverpool’s open-mindedness and the client’s trust for the project’s success. She points out that local consumers respond to distinct experiences, yet options for well-designed serviced apartments remain limited. EK Design seized that gap and built something that resonates, not only with travelers, but with a growing audience online.
Trueman Court now operates not just as a hospitality space, but as a quiet architectural intervention, one that balances history with design intelligence, and offers its guests an experience of thoughtful living inside walls shaped by time.
Project name: Trueman Court Luxury Serviced Apartments
Location: Liverpool, UK
Area: 800 m²
Client: JAGA Group Developments
Design firm: EK Design
Photography: Yushi Li, Mao Hua, JAGA Group Developments
