Warehaus is a recently completed building in Hackney of 30 residential units off atrium circulation, 7 ground floor duplex studio spaces and a rooftop garden and swimming pool.
The glass bottomed swimming pool gives the atrium beautiful light which adds to the sparkling artwork by Kerry Lemon, the aqua blue vinyl flooring and the brass handrail with an overall nautical effect.
The atrium, as a circulation method, makes it an event, a pleasing space to pass through on your way home. The primary driver was to encourage use of the stair rather than the lift and therefore enliven the space, the stair then became the feature itself.
The art work in the atrium is by artist and illustrator, Kerry Lemon. She also created the pieces in the side glazing of the entrance doors. Keeping with the aquatic theme, these are drawings of water plants that are laser cut from brass sheets.
The building was envisaged as a solid and powerful form using only bricks to create a deep facade. There is a strong architectural order to the building’s outward expression, a simple rhythm over the three principle facades.
The roof had to be strong and bold. It is a plinth for the roof garden and swimming pool.
The Brick is used in a simple stretcher bond to demonstrate the main structural elements while soldier coursing and stack bonding create and emphasise the inset panels around the windows, the brick soffits, created with bonded slips help deepen the facades and bring the material into the side walls of the recessed balconies. The brick creates safe and enclosing external spaces, places that might retain some warmth and protection to be used throughout the year. The brick is used internally in the studio units at Lower Ground and Ground Floor giving the feeling of solidity in a way a vaulted cellar does.
Photo copyright: lynas-smith.com
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