The new school of Architecture and Interior Design was designed in two sections, the conversion of a two storey Victorian warehouse to the rear and a new build front building on Holloway Road, North London.

The front building is a brick clad concrete frame structure enclosing new studios, lecture hall and exhibition spaces, ancillary offices and seminar rooms. There is a terrace at roof level. The rear warehouse contains back up areas, workshops, laboratories and dark rooms with studio
spaces at first floor.

The ground floor is the ‘shop window’ of the school with large windows opening onto the main exhibition and lecture spaces. A new glazed link connects the warehouse to the front building at the rear. The building was conceived as ‘raw’ construction with all materials left in their natural state and all details and services exposed to reveal the workings and construction of the building to the students.

This project was a Design and Build for the Murphy Group which was constructed on a very fast track programme from inception to completion in just 10 months.


RIAI Award 1997, AIA Commendation 1997
Short listed: RIBA Award 1997
Galvanised Steel Award 1997

Published/Featured in RIBA Journal,
Building Design and Irish Architect.

Completed 1996