Shakespeare House | bptw partnership

Recently completed, Shakespeare House is a unique conversion of a four storey residential building in Hackney. Through an inventive and rigorously executed refurbishment process eighteen high quality modern apartments have been created, transforming the original 1930’s building into a desirable place to live.
Award-winning architects bptw partnership were appointed by Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association to regenerate Shakespeare House which was in a poor condition and suffered from a range of issues including a lack of amenity space, inadequate living areas, small kitchens and bathrooms, and a number of security issues in and around the block. Bringing the development up to current standards, the building has been reconfigured to create generous modernised internal layouts which maximise space and access for residents. Spacious apartments, including a new ground floor wheelchair home, now benefit from generously sized living areas with large new lifetime home compliant bathrooms and kitchens. Spacious balconies have been incorporated into the re-design, offering residents an external amenity which overlooks newly landscaped gardens and communal areas surrounding the building. Balcony doors and new additional windows to all apartments vastly increase natural light into homes, creating a lighter, airier living environment.
Meeting CfSH targets, the building has been completely externally insulated to improve energy efficiency, and new energy saving fixtures and fittings have been installed to help reduce heating bills for residents. The dated external envelope has been overclad with an attractive Corium brick cladding system which is complemented by deep reveals and window surrounds to provide a distinct and uniform appearance. These elements work together to enhance the building’s architectural profile and define the whole development, giving it a contemporary feel and presenting it in a completely new light.
A 5th storey has been added to Shakespeare House to maximise space, whilst at the same time enhancing the building’s modern appearance. This new top-floor has been sensitively designed with consideration to neighbouring properties and is set-back to prevent overlooking and to avoid right to light issues. Utilising modern methods of construction the 5th storey has been constructed using a lightweight steel frame. In being set-back from the rest of the development, and with a different material treatment, this additional storey adds visual variation and further enhances the building’s unique architectural profile.
Adressing previous concerns regarding safety, the building has been brought up to Secured by Design standards. A new large glazed central core provides a clearly defined, welcoming entrance for all residents. A new lift and stair core replaces the original walk up stairs, alleviating previous security concerns and improving resident access to the upper floors.
Underused surrounding outdoor space and an overgrown courtyard area have been adapted and attractively landscaped with ecological planting to provide easily maintained private communal gardens for residents and a play space for children which is overlooked by the new window and balcony spaces.
The retention and conversion of the existing building has offered a more environmentally sustainable and community friendly solution to redevelopment. Shakespeare House is an inventive conversion project which will have a positive impact on its surroundings and contribute to the regeneration of the surrounding area. As well as significantly improving the quality of living for residents, the development is an exemplar of the high architectural quality that can be achieved through the retention of existing buildings.