28 PROJECT REPORT: HERITAGE, HISTORIC & ADAPTIVE REUSE
“We haven’t taken out any of the original features, we’ve tried to keep everything that was there”
The project combines a light-touch restoration, preserving original features to provide a ‘boutique’ range of apartments, alongside fundamental improvements to the fabric’s thermal performance. Given there were already bedrooms within the unit (firefighters’ ‘bedsits’ including space for chair and TV), the task of accommodating 19 apartments without drastically altering the building was made somewhat easier. The station was shut in 2014, and being in a very desirable part of London, quickly picked up by developer Platinum Land, which has a contracting arm, Old House Developments. Another architect initially took the project to Stage 3, but Tate Harmer came on board to “relook at the planning and listing building consent, and try and get more out of the building,” says Tate Harmer partner Rory Harmer. With strong heritage refurbishment experience, Tate Harmer ended up “redoing a load of stage 2, which was a headache to get listed building consent,” and planning permission was finally granted in 2018.
The architects had worked successfully with Platinum Land’s owner Andrew Gillick on the conversion of another important heritage building, a care home in Teddington, into nine townhouses. This
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helped on the fire station conversion, given that “the listed building process is not straightforward,” says Harmer. “There were times when it was a bit difficult. You have to get the conservation officer on board, submit lots of information; getting planning permission was a bit of a long process.” There are 19 flats in total, the project being split into two planning applications. One was for the main converted ‘appliance hall’ which previously housed the fire engines, and had a greater amount of heritage to protect, the other for the accommodation wing.
The impressive tower – used by firefighters to practice on small flights of stairs and drain hoses – has been retained, and there’s an application to turn it into the 20th flat. Currently however, the structure, which sits at the corner of the L-shaped building, is inaccessible due to potential danger for occupants.
Form & layout
The design repurposes the open plan ground floor to provide tall apartments; one in the former appliance hall having the original trio of double doors leading out on the street to the north. A variety of rooms have been converted into flats in the main
ADF APRIL 2021
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