Project | Porcelain Gallery |
Design | Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop |
Year | 2017 |
Location | 45 Leather Ln, London |
Containers | 4 |
Photographer | Nicholas Worley |
This project is the first new build office to be approved with shipping containers construction within a Conservation area in central London. The containers are sprayed hues of red and yellow to match the original glazed bricks of the surrounding Listed Buildings.
Simon Astridge (on the project): "I want my clients to walk into a space and not be able to keep their hands in their pockets. I want them to touch the different hues, textures and colours of the tiled products. I want them to run their fingers over the walls and the floor. The porcelain gallery project allowed us to achieve our goals of sensorial architecture. Attention was paid to encompassing the rich history of Hatton Garden within the design, with the use of shipping containers representing the industrial heritage through to smaller details such as the antique light fittings and custom display cabinets designed to mimic and communicate the significance of the jewellery workshops still prevalent in the area.
The project is rooted within its context by orientating towards a mature locust tree and with the colours of the shipping containers taken from the surrounding grade listed buildings and classical red and yellow hues of London brick. Our celebratory concept for everything the visitor touches to be clay starts as soon as they enter the gallery with the gentle touch of the ceramic buzzer, this concept extends throughout the project with everything from the extruded stair handrail to the slender door handles being made from 100% natural clay. We meticulously designed all the pieces and their unique glazes with our ceramicist Emma Louise Payne."