Tramshed | Waugh Thistleton Architects

Designed and built in 1905 The Shoreditch Tramshed is a Grade II listed building, which, until now has been hidden away from public view. Actually built as an early sub-station, It is a magnificent single space shed. With restaurateur Mark Hix, Waugh Thistleton Architects are bring this hidden gem back to full public enjoyment through the creation of a beautiful restaurant and public art gallery cementing Shoreditch's mantle as London's home for fine art and fine food. The impressive main hall needed a strong and decisive design idea – one that recognised the heritage of the building and complimented the Edwardian glazed brick interiors. We have treated the restaurant and its furniture as interventions – self sufficient objects in the space that do not compete with the interiors of the existing building. We have employed great planks of Douglas fir, leather and heavy gauge stainless steel; materials that match up to the magnificent space. The new elements of the final proposal are not grand but designed to be accessible to all that visit. An example is the chairs, the same ones used by the USA prison service.. and made from recycled coke bottles. And to cap it all Damien Hirst will compliment the whole design by bringing an exciting bovine based formaldehyde central focal point to the scheme.