Whilst the building is essentially civic in
nature, it retains a strong sense of being a
big house with smaller flexible ‘domestic’
spaces particularly on the upper floors,
which still have many of the original historic
features, including the bare brick walls,
stripped timber floors, original fireplaces and
an exposed roof structure, where the upper
level ceiling has been removed to create a
lofty light filled attic studio space.
The main change to the interior arrangement
was to create a dramatic new light filled
atrium on the west side of the building. The
old metal fire escape was brought inside in
a new white painted, metal staircase with
sound deadening concrete treads, which
unites all four storeys and leads to smaller
rooms on the upper floors,
MAKING A GRAND ENTRANCE
A central feature of this sensitive restoration
is the north-facing gault brick façade on
Peckham Road, with its distinctive gabled
frontage, which had been repaired to its
original condition.
The architects reinstated the original
main entrance with new double-doors on
the repaired cobbled forecourt, through
which the horse-drawn fire engines would
have once passed to get to the courtyard
and stables beyond. To the left of the old
carriageway, two sets of arched double
doors lead to what would once have been
appliance bays, but now open out onto the
forecourt bringing more natural light into the
main ground floor exhibition space. The gault
brick is spot repaired but left blackened, with
its 100-year old patina intact.
To create the imposing double-height
light-filled entrances, the floorplate had
to be completely removed, and then the
massive double-doors, resembling the style
of the originals, were commissioned from
Gowercroft Joinery, who had previously
worked with 6a architects on a number of
challenging bespoke projects.
Aside from the handling and fitting of the
10ft x 8ft solid timber double-doors weighing
approximately 250kgs each, the challenge
was to ensure that the oversized doors
would be entirely sympathetic and to scale
with ultra-slender sections, whilst being fully
functional and weight supporting. whilst the new appliance room doors provide
the first gallery spaces directly seen from the
street that the SLG has ever had.”
Careful detailing included traditional timber
jointing and V-grooves at the base in a
chevron format, often seen on vintage coach
house doors, plus specially reinforced semi-
circular tops lights replicating the character
of the originals. AN EXCITING PUBLIC SPACE
With energy efficiency and durability being
an important part of the design, the doors
sets were manufactured from sustainable
Accoya®, incorporating energy efficient
glazing. The exterior was finished in black
with a 10-year zero-maintenance spray finish
which contrasted with the clean white of the
interior.
Stephanie Macdonald, director of 6a
architects, said: “The reinstatement of the
original entrance and appliance room doors
was integral to the restoration of the façade,
creating the new internal entrance hall three
storeys high. This has allowed people to
step into a space full of natural sunlight,
Since its opening to the public in September
2018, the new South London Gallery Fire
Station has been widely praised.
According to the 2019 RIBA London Awards
jury: “The building achieves a true sense of
elegance and effortlessness in its character,
achieved by a successful collaboration
between the client and architect and a
meticulous design approach.”
With its new exhibition and education space,
the SLG continues to build on its world class
reputation, through an ambitious programme
of events, profiling new works by British and
internationally acclaimed as well as lesser
known artists.
As a free-to-enter totally inclusive and
accessible public facility, the South
London Gallery Fire Station is not only an
architectural icon but an important London
cultural asset.
Margot Heller, Director of South London
Gallery said: “Gowercroft Joinery’s recreation
of the original Victorian fire station doors
have helped to bring this distinctive
and historic building back to life. Our
expansion into this Fire Station has been
truly transformative for the South London
Gallery, enabling us to undertake a major
step change in the scope and impact of
our artistic and education programmes,
championing the importance of art, culture in
a new public space that is free to all at a time
of rapid change in the local area.”
For more information about Gowercroft
Joinery, telephone: 01773 300 510. Fax:
01773 300 511 Email: [email protected]
Web: www.gowercroft.co.uk
www.refurbandrestore.co.uk - 5