1-5 Cromwell Place

The continued growth in the art market and corresponding demand for space from specialist galleries coupled with steep rent rises in London’s West End gave shape to the development of a contemporary shared working, sales and exhibition space for London’s gallery operators in west London.

The project brief was to retain and refurbish a row of 5 grade-II listed early-Victorian Italianate townhouses to create a contemporary gallery space with basement art storage and courtyards. Lettable area was added to the sensitively restored buildings through the addition of a rear extension and connecting glass bridge.

The focus of the client’s sustainability brief was to extend the life of these previously under-used buildings and to equip them with energy efficient services. Although their listed status prohibited upgrades to the original building fabric, internally the spaces are now naturally ventilated and have been fitted with a high-efficiency electric heating system and low energy lighting with occupancy and daylight controls. An air-source heat pump provides heat to the extension, and an air-handling unit incorporates packaged heating, cooling, and humidity control and heat recovery.