Dezeen Magazine

Featherstone Young replaces board-game factory with apartments and artists' studios

A black box looms over the rusty steel facade of this complex of artists' studios and apartments, created by architecture studio Featherstone Young on the former site of a board-game factory in north London (+ slideshow).

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

The 450-square-metre building sits on a narrow mews in Stoke Newington – a stone's throw away from Dezeen's offices – and is the former home of board game and card manufacturer Waddington Games.

The site is tightly bracketed on one side by townhouses and on the other by industrial units, and as a result several plans by other firms to develop the plot have been denied over the years.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

To minimise disturbance to surrounding properties, Featherstone Young split the site in two to produce a new complex called Waddington Studios.

Artists' studios sit behind pre-rusted Corten steel panels, directing activity towards the street side of the building, while a courtyard house and two apartments occupy the more secluded and overlooked space to the rear.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

"The challenge presented by the site was how to respect the neighbouring residential amenity and address issues of severe overlooking at the rear," explained the architects, "as well as capture the spirit of the area and marry the aesthetic mix of industrial and residential."

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

Small holes punched out of the Corten steel sheets create a subtle swirling pattern like the ones used on the back of playing cards.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

"This pattern is an imprint designed on the graphic designs on the back of the Waddington Games playing cards – a nod to the previous use of the site," said the architects.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

The Corten panels pivot away from glazing set into a concrete-framed structure behind, varying the degree of natural light inside the double-height artists' studios. When the panels are closed, the studio lights shine through the perforations to accentuate the pattern.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

A black "hoisting box" projects out from the upper floor, allowing artists to transport larger items from the street to the high-level studios via a pulley system.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

Behind the studios, a single-storey house wraps around a courtyard. The structure has a planted saw-tooth roof that accommodates clerestory windows, maximising the light available for the landlocked site.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

Half gable-shaped windows provide insular views to prevent overlooking neighbours. Inside, the space is lined with warm-toned wood, while dark-grey metal details create a visual tie with the industrial-style facade.

Leafy pot plants are dotted around the adjoining patio.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young

The two single-storey apartments occupy a slice of space between the studios and the neighbouring residencies. They share an entrance with the courtyard house, and each has its own terrace.

Photography is by Brotherton Lock.

Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young
Location plan – click for larger image
Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young
Site plan – click for larger image
Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young
First floor plan – click for larger image
Waddington Studios by Featherstone Young
Second floor plan – click for larger image