6
NEWS RESTORATION
SPPARC townhouse restoration includes hexagonal lightwell
London-based architecture fi rm SPPARC has completed its restoration and conversion of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse near Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street Conservation Area. Creating four fl oors of vibrant, modern workspace for a family offi ce, the project has “remediated the impact of previous restoration works that damaged the building’s historic charm,” said the practice. The project’s architectural focal point is a hexagonal light well, formed from hand-crafted oak beams reminiscent of a honeycomb in its design. A key feature since the early stages of the concept design, this permeable form allows plentiful natural light into a dedicated social hub in the building’s modern addition, “and promotes visual and physical connectivity between fl oors,” said SPPARC. The oak installation is structural and supports both the hexagonal glass roof above and a new fi rst-fl oor roof terrace. Individual elements that form the webbed structure were manually elevated into position over several weeks, with the feature held together by restraint nodes and tension rods concealed in each of the timber lengths.
While the lightwell is a focal point, the building enjoys a changing aesthetic throughout with each of the spaces and rooms enjoying a unique appearance, while
© Philip Vile
refl ecting SPPARC’s attention to detail. This includes warm, rich oak fi nishes that create a soft, natural feel. The selective use of glazed screens throughout the building opens up the space, promoting “connected views” into rooms and natural light throughout the “inherently cellular confi guration of a Georgian townhouse.” Located above the structural timber roof is a new external courtyard garden, accessed from the original main stone cantilevered staircase. Crafted from warm- toned timber beams, oak planks organically twist and turn to create an integrated balustrade and seating area, providing views through the hexagonal glass into the interior below.
The honeycomb motif is carried over to the cut-outs on a bespoke corten planter screen around the roof terrace’s perimeter that houses bee-friendly planting. This encourages pollination from working bees in an enclosure on the building’s main historic roof form. SPPARC’s project remediates a series of previous renovation works to the building which signifi cantly altered the second and third fl oors. Drawing on its expertise in successfully striking the balance between restoring and re-imagining heritage buildings, SPPARC produced a fresh design response that echoes that of the original Georgian plan form. This was informed by an extensive process studying the building’s original layout using historical documents
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
to create a “coherent yet eclectic mix of old and new features,” said the architects. SPPARC carefully selected new materials that harmonised with existing decorative features. This included the restoration of historic features like the wall panelling and plaster mouldings, while incorporating new contemporary furniture, bespoke joinery, lighting and wall colours. On the fi rst fl oor, a stone fl oor to the hallway was reinstated to complement the original stone cantilevered staircase. Other stand-out features include terrazzo formed basins and intricate detailing on the stairs and fl oor fi nishes.
The lower ground level will house a charity dedicated to ending poverty and inequality in the London Borough of Camden. The family offi ce’s own charitable arm occupies the second fl oor, while other fl oors are dedicated to family offi ce use. Trevor Morriss, principal at SPPARC,
said: “Our Fitzrovia project is the product of six years spent carefully crafting and curating a modern, best-in-class workspace that celebrates the Grade II listed building’s heritage, remediating the 1990s-era works that stripped it of its Georgian charm. The structural timber hexagonal lightwell located in the building’s social heart is a focal point, visible throughout the remodelled property, and is echoed by a warm material palette that creates a place of calm and refl ection for the special family enterprise occupying the space.”
ADF MAY 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
