Old Workshop by Jack Woolley
Slideshow: people strolling by this brick wall in London might miss the disguised entrance to a secret office and home.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-3.jpg)
The wall appears to merely bridge the gap between two existing properties, but is in fact a screen across the entire facade of a building designed by British architect Jack Woolley.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-4.jpg)
Located on the site of a former carpenter’s workshop, Old Workshop has two storeys, one of which is completely submerged underground.
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An office and meeting room occupy the ground floor level, while the basement contains a residence that is naturally lit through a row of walk-on skylights.
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Pine salvaged from the former workshop roof was used to construct cabinets in the kitchen.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-7.jpg)
If you're intrigued by secret entrances, check out our story about a disguised passageway concealed behind a mirror.
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Photography is by David Grandorge, apart from where otherwise stated.
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The text below is from Jack Woolley:
Old Workshop
A project to rehabilitate a derelict carpenter’s workshop which had been used to make walking sticks by doubling its size and converting it to live/work.
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The original workshop was built behind a London stock brick wall that linked the neighbouring terraces.
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This wall and the gap above it that framed a landscape of tree canopies were important to the integrity of the streetscape and a decision was taken to preserve them.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-11.jpg)
This led to a bespoke door design piercing the wall to form a new entrance – integrated into the brickwork but visible only as a rectangular witness line.
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To increase the habitable volume, a new basement level with generous ceiling heights was inserted under the original, but offset horizontally to allow daylight to penetrate through walk on roof lights running along its length.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-13.jpg)
Materials salvaged from the derelict structure were used to restore the original building with small interventions to accommodate changed requirements of day lighting, thermal efficiency and circulation.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-16.jpg)
Where possible finishes were integrated into the structure – for example, the floor screed was polished, eliminating the need for a secondary finish.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-5.jpg)
Pitch pine boards salvaged from the roof were dried out, lightly planed and used to make kitchen units.
![Old Workshop by Jack Woolley Old Workshop by Jack Woolley](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/02/dezeen_Old-Workshop-by-Jack-Woolley-20.gif)
To extend the useful life of the building, it had to function in a variety of live:work usage ratios as needs changed.
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The way the spaces could be used was planned and services were provided to enable different combinations to be adopted easily.
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Architect: Jack Woolley
Structural Engineer: C&R Design
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Site address: Old Workshop, Almorah Road, London N1 3EN
Timetable: riba stages a-d 12/08 - 05/09, riba stages e-h 05/09 – 02/10, riba stages j-k 03/10 – 06/11
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