The restoration of Victorian stables and transformation into a new studio, archive and workshop.
This project demonstrates how a low-quality building can be saved and repurposed, while retaining the majority of the existing fabric. The decision to retrofit rather than demolish was based on carbon calculations.
This fantastic retrofit building project was made possible by a close collaborative design process between the client, architect and structural engineer and the engineers confidence in being able to address the structural defects, and willingness to engage in a reactive design process. The engineers contributions have successfully demonstrated that even an unremarkable, dilapidated building can be well worth saving.
The main structural interventions are well considered and expressed and form an integral part of the architecture. Retaining the original fabric reveals the buildings character and proves the value of retrofit.