The Sekforde / Chris Dyson Architects

© Peter Landers

• Architects: Chris Dyson Architects
• Location: Sekforde Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 0HA, United Kingdom
• Architect In Charge: Chris Dyson Architects LLP
• Other Participants : Magnificent Basements ltd, Ground Sun Ltd, System Air limited, The Lighting Asylum, Williams restoration, Ian Harper Artist, Matt Whittle Joinery, Formosa Welding, Park Architectural Glazing.
• Area: 493.0 m2
• Project Year: 2018
• Photographs: Peter Landers

© Peter Landers

Text description provided by the architects. The brief for the works at The Sekforde centred around two elements 1)The historic pub building which required a detailed restoration 2)The creation of a new build which would occupy the disused, street facing, service yard. It was clear from the outset that the client, from a law background, had a passion for sensitively restoring the historic building where he would become the final live in landlord to the restored pub.

© Peter Landers

The initial Consent allowed for minimal works to the façade of the Historic Building. During a visit to site, while repair work was underway, CDA discovered that the original bricks beneath a layer of cement based render appeared of decent quality. An archive photograph lead to a second application and the restoration of the original façade with exposed brickwork and wood grain shopfront at street level.

© Peter Landers

Internally the timber panelling, fireplace and bar at ground floor level have been carefully restored. The former cellar at basement level now contains a restaurant with fully restored brickwork walls. The first floor contains a ballroom, in which Georgian timber panelling, mouldings and covings have been carefully detailed, with the colour scheme taking influence from the Yellow Room at the John Soane Museum.    

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A map dating from 1872 showed the derelict pub yard was once occupied and was utilised in our application to establish a new 3 storey mixed use building. Constructed of reclaimed London stock bricks, this new build uses traditional decorative brick features such as tuck pointed gauged brick arches and recesses, along with a contemporary interpretation of Georgian proportions. Situated between the historic and new build we created a glazed link, forming a clear separation between old and new.

© Peter Landers

The integration of a complex heat recovery system and ground source heat pump and the use of reclaimed materials gives the project a further environmental sensitivity. The development is an example of successful collaboration across many disciplines, including the project manager on site, lighting specialists, M&E and the local council’s conservation department.

© Peter Landers