The Museum of the Home in Hackney, London, has recently undergone a spectacular transformation. Formerly known as the Geffrye Museum, the Grade-1 listed alms-houses, built in Hackney in 1714, have been renovated and extended by Architecture studio, Wright & Wright, in order to create additional space for exhibitions and the public.
When it first opened in 1914, the museum displayed a selection of furniture and woodwork, but over the years the focus shifted to more domestic living room displays, and gradually evolved to include more furniture and paintings. Its purpose now is to change the way we think about the concept of ‘home’.
Previous alterations to the building meant that only 1 floor out of 3 was usable for exhibition space, which has now been rectified. Additionally, Wright & Wright decided to excavate the lower ground floor by one metre, giving the whole building 80% more space than before.
As part of the project, a number of other changes were also made to the exterior and interior. This includes a Learning Pavilion, which is a child-friendly space that allows for educational activities and has been furnished with KI’s recyclable and stackable Hatton chair.
The chairs’ built in UV protection also means that they can be used outdoors when weather permits. Being comfortable and light, they’re the perfect addition to the Learning Pavilion. This newly built area is located at the opposite end of the museum’s garden to the new Studio Pavilion; a flexible space that can accommodate events, lectures, and workshops.
Naila Yousuf, Partner at Wright & Wright, commented, “The Learning Pavilion was designed mainly for primary school children, including those with mobility issues, so the chairs that were used needed to accommodate this. The KI Hatton chair fitted the requirements including being of school guidance height and has received very positive feedback, including from members of the local community who are able to use the space. The orange colour also perfectly complements the other materials used in the project and they look excellent from the gardens!”
Helen Bryant, Director at Collaborate, commented, “KI definitely live up to their reputation of being reliable and great to work with. Their Hatton chair answered the brief perfectly because it’s durable, comfortable, light, stackable, and best yet, affordable. It’s also 100% recyclable, which is an added bonus!”
Project credits:
Architects: Wright & Wright Architects
Client: Museum of the Home
Landscape architect: Dominic Cole Landscape Architects Ltd
Main contractor: Quinn London Ltd
Principal designer advisor: The Stroma Group Ltd
Furniture procurement: Collaborate Furniture, featuring chairs from KI
For more information, visit: www.kieurope.com