St Augustine’s Church by Roz Barr Architects
In Hammersmith, west London, the Order of St Augustine opens the doors to its ethereal place of worship. A restoration was undertaken by Roz Barr Architects who stripped back layers of decoration from previous eras to reach a pure volume reflective of the original architecture – revealing beautiful timber and masonry that was sanded and treated with white oil. Pictured here, Barr’s distinctly contemporary confessional booths. Other contemporary additions to the church include a new Altar designed by ceramicist Julian Stair and cast iron light ring designed by Roz Barr in collaboration with graphics designers John Morgan Studio. 55 Fulham Palace Road, W6 8AU
Balfron Tower by Ernő Goldfinger
Located in Poplar, east London, this Grade II* listed brutalist residential tower completed in 1967 is currently being brought back to life by developer Londonewcastle, architects Studio Egret West and designers at Ab Rogers Studio who have been part of a renovation effort loyal to architect Ernő Goldfinger’s original concept. It’s an interesting moment in the building’s history to visit. Balfron Tower, St Leonard’s Road, E14 0QR
Heatherwick Studio offices at Willing House by Heatherwick Studio
See 25 years of models, collections and artefacts at the Heatherwick Studio, and its interesting office building, a listed French baroque building from 1909, renovated by the studio themselves who exposed the concrete coffering of the structure. Enter through large iron gates and the porte-cochère. Take a walk through the studio’s design approach, from its in-house workshop stocked with materials, 3D printers, vac-formers and laser cutters. 356–364 Gray’s Inn Road, King’s Cross, WC1X 8BH
Béton Brit by Archer & Braun
London’s Open House programme is peppered with intriguing residential interventions, extensions and renovations that show how architects are set on improving and preserving the built heritage of the city house by house. There’s many to choose from, but we’ve picked out this rear extension and refurbishment at a terraced house in the Albert Gardens Conservation Area of Stepney Green. Architects Archer & Braun added a dense, modern addition to the property that is part of the Mercer’s Estate, mostly completed by 1828. 5 East Arbour St, E1 0PU
Portcullis House by Hopkins Architects
Explore the social hub of British MPs and politicians, Portcullis House. Plans for this building started in the late 1980s, when the Westminster Jubilee line opened up a piece of land above ground for 200 offices and meeting rooms. The seven storey building features an internal courtyard surrounded by a two storey cloister, all topped off with a impressive roof. Glass within a domed diagrid of straight timber members with stainless steel joints is supported on a secondary web of steel struts and tension members laced through the timber framework. Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2LW
Periscope House by Groves Natcheva Architects
In Queens Park, west London, this brick and concrete house was built on a disused infill garage site. It involved a lot of back and forth with the counctil to finally get planning, but we’re glad they did. There’s a clever balance between creating privacy on the street, and opening up glazing to bring in plenty of light. The house sinks down one level below ground opening up space for two pebbled courtyards, while at the upper level, a clerestory window brings light into a double height space. 1 Woodville Road, NW6 6HQ
