Private Residence, Shoreditch

A prominent South Shoreditch warehouses built circa 1863, the property was originally occupied by ‘Patey & Co. Perfumers’ as a distribution warehouse of produce such as Bear Grease (for moustache grooming), Almond Shaving Cream and Cherry Toothpaste to their nearby store in the City of London.

Following a period of vacancy, the property was used as an office from the late 1970’s onwards, during which time little or no maintenance took place leaving the building to fall into disrepair and finally signalling the end of the building’s usable life. Extensive restoration and remodelling was undertaken to convert the space into a four storey family dwelling.

A carefully considered approach was adopted to identify which elements of the historic fabric should be restored from both an aesthetic and functional perspective whilst all modern additions were stripped away to reveal the historic plan form.

The accommodation is configured around a central stair core that divides the property front to back, providing structural stability and services whilst also providing passive stack ventilation to all levels.

Internally the character of the Victorian craftsmanship is retained within a minimalist environment that seeks to exploit the spatial hierarchy of the historic plan. The clarity and composition of the modern insertions have been informed by the desire to retain a connection with the building’s functional heritage.

Awards: Alan King Award 2014 - Winner; AJ Retro Fit Awards 2015 - Winner