Artisan
- Client: Dukelease
- Contacts: Euan MacGillivray, Andrew Long, Anil Pallan
Artisan is a carefully crafted conversion of five connecting buildings, each individual in its original or contemporary design. The development of these 13 apartments spans the upper floors of the terraced buildings and they are inspired by the district’s history and artisan scene. The scheme also contributes to the growing retail offering of the area with four modern retail units completing the picture.
Located in the heart of Fitzrovia, Artisan enjoys an enviable location in an area with a long-standing reputation as the home of London’s most renowned creative minds, artists, and literary figures. The development team worked closely with Camden Council throughout what was an extensive design process. Permission was obtained where others had failed due to the sympathetic approach to the existing buildings and a clear vision for creating a new streetscape.
The development reinterprets a city block, deliberately mixing styles and materials to continue the district grain. A centralised core introduces an efficient contemporary and homogenous design aspect which unites five inter-connecting new and historic buildings turning the street corner of Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. The complex build combines differing characteristics, new contemporary aspects sit alongside retained Georgian elements and reconstructed traditional forms.
Rolfe Judd applied the combined skills of contemporary design methods with conservation techniques to preserve and enhance the best of the original building fabric and combine that with sensitive internal and external intervention. A visually stunning form is created that respects its immediate context, achieved with a play of materials, solid and transparent, bringing delight and sensitivity in parallel.
Internally, all apartments at Artisan feature a highly flexible interior configuration. A prime example of ‘broken-plan living’, a series of thoughtful design innovations ensure a practical and highly functional home that can adapt easily to the varying needs of the modern lifestyle.
The project won the overall Grand Prix award at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2016 as well as its category Best Conversion. It was also the recipient of the Best Residential Redevelopment at the UK Property Awards and was shortlisted for the Development of the Year in the Sunday Times British Homes Awards.
