An extensive restoration of Voysey House in Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, has given it a new lease of life by dMFK Architects. The building was originally designed as a factory by CFA Voysey.
The newly renovated Grade-II listed building is now a 'premium workspace' and will be occupied by Sanderson Design Group, which originally commissioned the building as an extension to its main wallpaper factory in 1901.
The building has witnessed a rich history, housing a manufacturing empire that once employed over a thousand people.
Charles Voysey 1857 – 1941 was an English architect, and furniture and textile designer. Voysey's early work was as a designer of wallpapers, fabrics and furnishings in an Arts and Crafts style. The restored building in W4 is named Voysey House in his memory.
Voysey is renowned as the architect of several country houses and was one of the first people to understand and appreciate the significance of industrial design. He has been considered one of the pioneers of Modern Architecture.
"NEVER LOOK AT AN UGLY THING TWICE. IT IS FATALLY EASY TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO CORRUPTING INFLUENCES." CFA VOYSEY
"The concept of the project was to deliver a holistic restoration that refocuses attention on the quality of CFA Voysey's original building," dMFK Architects director Joshua Scott told Dezeen.
Office spaces occupy the first, second and fourth floors and are lit by an internal light-well, with large openings leading out to terraces. A historic archive is hosted on the third floor.
Oxidised copper cladding was used to wrap around the light-well and is complemented by metal railings and window frames coloured in "Voysey bottle green" chosen to pay homage to the original paintwork.
The CFA Voysey Society, was founded in 2012 to celebrate his achievements and help maintain his legacy.
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Image: Jack Hobhouse
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