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Hackney Town Hall

Restoration drama

Hackney Town Hall – a prime example of Art Deco architecture – has been given a new lease of life with a creative-yet-careful restoration.

Originally completed in 1937, the Grade II-listed building has experienced 80 years of intensive use – yet little investment in restoration and modernisation.

To bring it into the 21st century, we refurbished and enhanced the spaces to ensure its continued future use for council staff, visitors and public.

Family waiting in the corridor at Hackney Town Hall
Interior shot of people waiting outside the wedding suites at Hackney Town Hall
Interior shot of a wedding suite, filled with people watching a wedding ceremony at Hackney Town Hall
A new space for conferences, performance and celebrations at the Hackney Town Hall
Two people holding hands in the wedding suite at Hackney Town Hall

We started thinking about how the building could work harder for the council, using every inch of floor space and introducing new uses that could generate much needed revenue. The council was keen to see the offices upgraded and modernised with new spaces for conferences performance and celebrations.

But the ultimate goal was to bring the building into wider public use.

Interior shot showing the workspace before the refurbishment, - a cluttered office, with documents and computers
Interior shot of the refurbished workspace at Hackney Town Hall

We cleared the decks, removing physical clutter so we could focus on painstakingly restoring the original finishes. We then reconfigured the space, introducing an office design which supported smarter ways of working with a 6:10 desk-to-staff ratio.

A woman getting a drink for the bar at Hackney Town Hall.
Exterior show showing entrance to Hackney Town Hall.

Outmoded spaces have been converted into new event venues – a new opportunity to generate revenue – while unused light wells in the heart of the building have become multi-functional spaces. New marriage suites and a public reception have been installed, while the assembly halls now have a functioning, Art Deco-styled bar.

Interior shot of event space at Hackney Town Hall
Interior shot showing panels on the wall at Hackney Town Hall
Interior details shot showing material on the walls at Hackney Town Hall
Interior shot of blue seating in the council chamber rooms at Hackney Town Hall
Hanging, art-deco style light fixture at Hackney Town Hall
Interior shot of blue seating in the council chamber rooms at Hackney Town Hall

The town hall is now more efficient and effective – accommodating up to 70% more staff and more council services.

Colour palette and powders for Hackney Town Hall
Colour palette and powders for Hackney Town Hall
Craftsmen polishing wood for Hackney Town Hall Station
Interior close up of a construction worker writing in their book.
Interior close up showing a craftsmen working on the tiling on the floor.
Interior detail shot showing someone holding a hammer

We worked with local craftsmen – some of whom came out of retirement specially – to restore the leatherwork, French polishing, and carpentry, and replace light fittings and ironmongery with matching materials.

Interior landing area outside of the rooms at Hackney Town Hall.
Interior detail shot of the flooring in Hackney Town Hall
Interior details shot showing landing are and stairs at Hackney Town Hall
Interior details shot showing stairs and railing at Hackney Town Hall
Internal detail shot of stair railing.
Hawkins Brown - Hackney Town Hall -Interior - stairs

Project details

Project name: Hackney Town Hall

Location: London UK

Service: Briefing and estates optimisation, Digital design

Value: < £20M

Scope: Architecture, Interior design

Clients: London Borough of Hackney

Status: Complete

Completion date: 2017

Contractor: Osborne

Structural engineer: Warehams

M&E engineer: Jacobs

Quantity surveyor: Ridge & Partners

Consultant: Turner Bates

Project management: Ridge & Partners

Lighting design: DPA Lighting Consultants

Photography: Siobhan Doran

Awards

Hackney Design Awards 2018
People's Choice Awards - Winner

New London Awards 2018
Conservation & Retrofit - Winner

RIBA Awards 2018
London Regional Award - Winner

If you want to know more about our interior design work, contact Morag Morrison

If you want to know more about our civic, community & culture work, contact Adam Cossey