15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
06/04/2018.
[London] UK
metalocus, INÉS OÑATE
metalocus, INÉS OÑATE
On the old tracings of an 11th century abbey, this apartment building is located in London, which aims to capture the essence of the original abbey.
Facade. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Facade. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Entrance. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Construction detail. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Entrance hall. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Entrance hall. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Interior. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Interior. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Interior. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Interior. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Interior. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Bathroom. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Night view. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Night view. 15 Clerkenwell Close by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects. Photograph by Timothy Soar
Site plan. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Ground floor plan. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Second floor plan. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Fifth floor plan. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Lower ground floor plan. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Elevation and section. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Constructive detail. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Obtaining the stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Obtaining the stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Obtaining the stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone in the quarry. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction process. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction detail. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction detail. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Construction detail. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
Stone. 15 Clerkenwell Close. Courtesy of GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects
The project, designed by the architects of GROUPWORK, led by Amin Taha, began with the requirement of making a comfortable construction that could accommodate apartments and offices / studios free of columns. Due to the historical background of the site, the building uses limestone as the main structural and finishing element.
The architects propose with this work the integration of the architectural heritage in the construction, and how the material can be combined with the structure to generate an architecture that has been lost over time.
The architects propose with this work the integration of the architectural heritage in the construction, and how the material can be combined with the structure to generate an architecture that has been lost over time.
Description of project by GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architect
The brief made time available to investigate context and a number of possible loose fit solutions for a replacement building that would sit within the all but vanished grounds of an C11th limestone Norman abbey. Originally built by Baron Jordan Briset, it was expanded and remodelled until its C16th dissolution brought religious revolution, precipitating a gradual erosion through subdivision and conversion into grand houses for the newly protestant barons. Oliver Cromwell bringing republican revolution and replacing baronial mansions with a new and sober home before the restoration saw yet further subdivision into smaller rented properties that by the C19th briefly housed Marx and a visiting Lenin. Ignominiously a furniture sales room occupied a the remains of the original abbey dining halls and cloister before fire and the 1970’s left only a few stones and the road layout as a memory of the nunnery.
The Normans discovered that limestone, when kept freshly wet from the quarry remains soft enough to more easily carve before calcifying for strong fortifications. Helpful in successfully establishing conquests and later for finer tracery in religious and buildings of state. For arguably better weathering, fire and structural integrity that knowledge and skill of combining material and structure to help define an architecture has been lost through the ubiquitous layering and over cladding frames.
Using self-finished structural materials, carved and fallen columns, revealed cloisters and mosaic floors 15 Clerkenwell Close at first alludes to a local physical and social archaeology, but also raises questions on architectural heritage and its integration within a broader culture. Reminding us the literacy of the built and broader environment is based on understanding and disseminating through construction the poetic possibilities inherent within the structural and aesthetic qualities of all materials available that make up the vocabulary of all architectural languages.
The stone; was sourced from the same bed as at Portland, Devon, though from a quarry across the channel (in Norman territory) that had only gone down to 350m years (same period as the original abbey) and which would therefore reveal more clearly the fossilised coral, ammonite shells, quarts seams and pockets. The retention of these natural finishes is highly unusual today as the link between architects and quarries has also been lost, with prepared small sample tiles often being the only connection and understanding of the material. The decision to allow the fossils and the quarry master’s sub-division of the stone bed to speak was intentionally part of the broader philosophy of material, structure, working and design skillsacting in unity to make architecture. That heritage was perhaps more recently reengaged by Edward R Ford, earlier by William Morris, again in Luis Sullivan’s writings but is a common cyclical theme in architecture whether as the ‘parlante’ of the enlightenment or arguably more intuitively as at Palazzo Strozzi by Benedetto da Maiano.
More information
Architect
GROUPWORK + Amin Taha Architects (Project Director)
Location
15 Clerkenwell Close, London, EC1R 0AA
Client
15CC Limited, Amin Taha
Dates
Occupation Date.- 23rd November 2017
Area
Gross Internal Area.- 2,000sqm
Contract Value
£4.65m (excluding land costs and fees)
Contract Type
Phase 1 – JCT Traditional, Phase 2 – D+B
Contractor
Phase 1 (Shell + Core).- JB Structures. Phase 2 (Fit Out).- Ecore Construction
Collaborators
Structure.- Webb Yates. Landscape Architect.- Todd Longstaffe-Gowen. M+E.- MLM. QS.- Cumming. Acoustic.- RBA. Approved Inspector.- MLM. Main Contractor.- JB Structures. Stone Sub-Contractor.- The Stone Masonry Company. Specialist Glazing.- Glasstec Systems. Specialist Metalwork.- Phil Benson. Specialist Timber.- Reliance Veneers
Groupwork + Amin Taha
Amin Taha, was born in Berlin and is settled in London, graduated from the University of Edinburgh and worked on cultural, residential, education and infraestructure projects before incorporatin the practice in 2005. In addition to running design and detailing of prjects Amin continues to teach, lecture and crit schools of architecture.
Groupwork is composed by Amin Taha and also Richard Cheesman, Dominic Kacinskas, Dale Elliot, Peter Rae, Adam, Elisa Lam, Samuel Douek, Jason and Alex.
Groupwork is composed by Amin Taha and also Richard Cheesman, Dominic Kacinskas, Dale Elliot, Peter Rae, Adam, Elisa Lam, Samuel Douek, Jason and Alex.
