TYPE’s retrofit of a vaulted studio flat in Crescent House, a Grade II* listed gem of London’s Golden Lane Estate, showcases a seamless blend of heritage conservation, sustainability, and contemporary design ingenuity.
Crescent House, designed in the early 1960s by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, served as a precursor to the celebrated Barbican Estate, embodying a modernist ideal that valued functional zoning and elegant materiality. This project exemplifies how thoughtful intervention can reconcile heritage conservation with contemporary needs, offering a model for affordable and sustainable retrofits.
TYPE’s approach was shaped by three primary challenges: the restrictions of working within a listed structure, addressing the building’s inadequate thermal performance, and adapting the flat’s rigid zoning to reflect today’s flexible lifestyles. The studio embraced a “fabric-first” methodology, insulating walls and ceilings while respecting the historical integrity of the space. This work complements the Local Authority’s planned vacuum-glazed window upgrades, bridging the retrofit ambitions of both private and public stakeholders.
A standout feature of the project is its inventive material palette. Cork flooring, honeycomb cardboard partitions, and Ecoboard cabinetry are sustainable, affordable, and reversible solutions that align with conservation guidelines. The result is an aesthetic that feels simultaneously contemporary and timeless, balancing the original architectural ethos with the pragmatic demands of modern living.
