Handel Hendrix House, Mayfair
Sensitive, detailed and extensive Listed building project to allow public access to George Frideric Handel’s house and Jimi Hendrix’s flat.
Location
Mayfair, London W1K
Status
Completed
Use
Cultural & Arts, Heritage
Client
Main Contractor
Photographer
Reorganising the building to allow public access to Hendrix’s flat
Haines Phillips Architects won the commission for the first phase of the long term master plan for the expansion of the museums facilities to complete the full reinstatement of the baroque composer George Frideric Handel’s House at 25 Brook Street and to allow public access to the rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s flat at the third floor of 23 Brook Street.
Restoration and transformation of Grade I and Grade II listed buildings
A new mansard roof extension at fourth floor level above no.25 Brook Street allowed the museums office to be relocated, in turn releasing the spaces within the Hendrix flat at third floor level in no.23 Brook Street for public access. No.25 is Grade I Listed and no.23 is Grade II Listed.
The project funding was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and supplemented by private donations.
A further mansard roof extension was created at first floor level to the rear of no.23 Brook Street to contain the new Learning Studio facility to allow school groups to visit the Museum while it remains open to the general public.
A further mansard roof extension was created at first floor level to the rear of no.23 Brook Street to contain the new Learning Studio facility to allow school groups to visit the Museum while it remains open to the general public.
New exhibition spaces
The Georgian interiors at first and second floor levels within no.23 were retained as an integral part of the Museum, providing exhibition spaces at first floor level and visitor and volunteer rooms at second floor level.
The internal visitor route within the museum was re-organised in order to reinstate the entrance through the original front door of Handel’s house, allowing visitors to enter and experience the building as Handel would have known it.
Reinstated entrance through Handel's front door
The internal visitor route within the museum was re-organised in order to reinstate the entrance through the original front door of Handel’s house, allowing visitors to enter and experience the building as Handel would have known it.
Sensitive interventions and alterations to the listed building
The Listed nature of the buildings, their historic significance, and the sensitivity of their context within the Conservation Area called for a sensitive and contextual approach to the design. This included designing the first floor rear extension to minimize its visual impact whilst maximising the internal volume of the space to meet the acoustic requirements of the recital room/Learning Studio.
The internal interventions, including to the visitor route, and creation of the Hendrix exhibition do not compromise the historic integrity of the layouts and spaces.
Rear courtyard before
Rear courtyard after
Brook Street elevation before
Brook Street elevation before
Sketch design option for rear mansard extension
Phasing of the building works through careful design
The Museum’s requirement to remain open to the public throughout the construction period was an important consideration that informed the design, in particular in relation to the visitor route alterations and the careful phasing of the works.
Improving accessibility and creating new opportunities to understand Handel and Hendrix’s music and lifestyles
As well as creating music, groups are given an opportunity to explore the House and to get an understanding of how and why Handel lived at Brook Street in the 18th Century. The restored Hendrix Flat allows visitors to get a flavour of how these two fascinating and hugely influential musicians, Handel and Hendrix, would both have lived in the building ‘separated by a wall and 200 years’.
The new facilities mean that the Museum is now accessible to all visitors (including those in wheelchairs and with other impairments). It can receive educational groups on a more regular basis, without having to close the Museum to the public.
The project received considerable press coverage in a wide range of publications, including The Guardian, Independent, Telegraph, on the BBC, and in the architectural/design press including Blueprint magazine.
