House for Two Artists
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Context
Hélène Binet (website) Download Original
Conversion of an early 20th century five-storey former clock-makers into a house, painting and sculpture studio for two artists
The architects concentrated on reusing much of the original fabric and making strategic changes to the section and plan to provide inspiring and effective spaces.
A low basement is made into a tall painting studio, by raising part of the roof and creating a split-level terrace in the rear garden above. The third floor provides another studio, for smaller photographic and graphic work, with a window looking out over the city.
The design strategies are resolved in the façade, with the deployment of floor to ceiling windows on the top floor, which align to the parapet and roof windows of the neighbouring buildings.
The street façade is treated with a stucco, which has been over painted with a black glaze, resulting in a street façade which is sympathetic to the surrounding brickwork. The theme of masking is also applied to the windows, which are constructed of timber and finished with bronze anodized aluminium.
Data
- Begun: Aug 2003
- Completed: Jan 2005
- Floor area: 217m2
- Sector: House
- Total cost: £290,000
- Funding: Private Client
- Tender date: Jun 2003
- Procurement: JCT Intermediate
- Address: Bitton Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC2M 5UH, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Tony Fretton Architects
- Project architects: David Owen, Jim McKinney, Karin Hepp, Matt Barton, Simon Jones, Tony Fretton
- Client: Private
- Structural engineer: Price & Myers
- Quantity surveyor: Brendan Hennessy Associates
- Party-wall Surveyor: Cyril Silver and Partners
Suppliers
- Main contractor: Famela
- External Render: Sto Render
- Glazing, skylights: The Standard Patent Glazing Company
- Ironwork: Hargreaves
- Ironmongery: Izé