Originally a derelict Victorian school building hidden behind a modest brick façade, the 7,000 sq ft space had sat empty for over a decade. Working alongside CarverHaggard, the project reimagined the building as the permanent home of the Sarah Myerscough Gallery and the newly established Crafted Arts Foundation.

The brief was clear. Reveal the integrity of the original architecture while delivering a contemporary gallery environment of international standard. The building was a maze of small rooms, blocked windows and altered levels. EC1 worked to strip back years of change, opening the space and restoring its proportions.

Across two exhibition floors, we uncovered and repaired 25 original windows to bring natural light back into the building. Historic features including terracotta tiles, aged pine floors, cast iron details and original glazing were retained wherever possible. 

A new minimalist floating staircase now connects the gallery levels, introducing a precise contemporary intervention within the historic shell.

Delivering a high-specification gallery within a sensitive heritage asset required careful sequencing, coordination and craftsmanship. Through close collaboration and considered delivery, the team ensured the building’s character remained intact while creating a clean and flexible backdrop for exhibition.

The result is a calm, light-filled gallery that balances history with modern clarity. A considered restoration that gives this long-forgotten schoolhouse a confident new chapter in Mayfair’s cultural landscape.