The reception incorporates historical elements of the building, including the exposed brickwork of a tudor mansion that originally stood on the site. Carefully preserved camouflaged paintwork on the external walls, is surviving evidence of the building’s use also as the area’s civil defence headquarters during WWII. Hawkins\Brown has retained and restored the original features in the Council Chamber including a dramatic plaster domed ceiling, vaulted galleries, Australian walnut timber panelling and ornamental gold cornicing, complimenting these features with a bespoke contemporary lighting and furniture scheme. The removal of non-original fixtures and fittings and restoration of the
bronze balustrade to the original Art Deco sweeping timber staircase emphasizes the grand entrance to the Chamber. A new roof light above highlights its restoration. Refurbishment of the Assembly Hall included upgrading the sprung Canadian maple dance floor and reinstating a suspended 1.5-metre diameter mirror ball at the centre of the hall. Reputed to be one of the largest in Europe, it evokes the room’s dance hall days of previous years, when Jazz greats George Melly and Eartha Kitt performed there. The existing dressing rooms have been extensively refurbished with modern facilities and the original cloakrooms below the Assembly Hall have been refurbished and adapted to create fully accessible toilets. The original coat rails, pegs and timber partitions are incorporated into the new cubicles. A bar has been reinstated adjacent to the Assembly Hall and a new kitchen space has been created to cater for functions.
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John Turner, Director, Hawkins Brown, said: “It’s pleasing that the team
at Hawkins Brown has been able to help bring back to life a sleeping beauty and to re-discover layers of its colourful heritage. I believe the people of Hackney and beyond will enjoy the modernised facilities and exciting opportunities that the building now opens up once again. This has been a fantastic project for our architectural practice to put its name to and it is a testament to all those involved that this landmark project has reached completion on schedule.” Hawkins\Brown’s restoration revives the building’s existing palette of
materials (original brick, Portland stone, fibrous plaster, slate roof tiles, hardwood veneers and York Stone paving) and complements this with a modern palette of bronze, reconstituted stone, concrete, glass and stainless steel.
Project Credits
Architect: Hawkins\Brown Design team: John Turner, Euan Macdonald, Josephine Glyn Structural / Civil Engineer: Building Design Partnership Services Engineer: Jacobs Building Contractor: Killby & Gayford Ltd Bespoke Furniture: Killby & Gayford Ltd Cost Consultants: Ridge Project Management: Gardiner and Theobald LLP Lighting Consultant: Max Fordham Consulting Engineers Theatre Consultants: Stage Electrics Partnership Ltd
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See inside back cover and Fax to 01435 863897
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