South London Gallery Fire Station
South London Gallery Fire Station
We provided conservation support to the South London Gallery and their architects 6a during the project to convert a redundant Grade II listed fire station into exhibition and education spaces. The revitalised building opened to great acclaim and won both a RIBA London Award and a RIBA National Award in 2019.
The Peckham Road fire station was completed in 1867 and is one of the earliest surviving purpose-built fire stations constructed by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. It closed in 1925 and was taken over by Kennedy’s Sausages, a well-known local firm. By the time the building was gifted to the South London Gallery in 2008, it was in a poor condition with significant levels of asbestos throughout, timber rot from rainwater penetration through the roof and structural cracking; it was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2014.
We provided heritage support throughout the project, from the successful Round 1 bid to the HLF for refurbishment and adaptation of the building through to obtaining planning and listed building consent. We researched and wrote a Conservation Plan to advise on how the building could be refurbished and managed without compromising its architectural and historic significance, participated in pre-application consultation with Southwark Council, Historic England and other consultees, and advised the architect throughout the design process.
Client: South London Gallery
Architects: 6a architects