Pitzhanger Hub

The objective was to provide a bright and contemporary space, reflecting Soane's continued architectural inspiration and posing the question - "What might Soane do today?" Initial research into Soane's design methodologies produced a number of areas to explore; buildings within buildings, lantern structures, ceiling architecture, internal lightweight tensile forms, fragmentation and dematerialisation, geometric artifice, use of innovative engineering and play of light. The architectural response considers the new intervention as a building set within the existing listed courtyard walls. The existing masonry was built up to form a constant datum with a glazed lantern placed above to provide natural daylight. The positive space formed by the lantern afforded us the opportunity to consider the importance of ceilings to Soane and their structural resolution or not. The idea of geometric ambivalence was used by taking the form of one of Soane's famous 'handkerchief ceilings', as seen in Pitzhanger Manor, and dissecting and mirroring it through both axes.

This resulted in an undulating ceiling-scape, lower at the centre and rising around the perimeter creating an interesting play of light. To introduce a sense of spatial fragmentation, using innovative engineering, the ceiling scape was formed using a series of fins hanging vertically and stretching across the interior. A cost and carbon effective solution was achieved by the production of a CNC kit of plywood parts, which could be assembled on site. With structural engineers WebbYates, this roof is one of a series of "tab and wedge" kits. The project is concrete and steel free, with the exception of some localised underpinning and much of the existing building fabric reused.