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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Cultural-Centre for Czech and Slovak emigrés in London, England by Inglis Badrashi LoddoOctober 17th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Inglis Badrashi Loddo London-based practice Inglis Badrashi Loddo (IBLA) has completed the renovation, conversion and extension of Woolborough House in Barnes to create a new home for the Velehrad organisation. Founded by the Czech refugee Father Jan Lang in 1964 from a house in Notting Hill, Velehrad London is a charitable organisation whose mission is to provide religious, cultural and social support and counselling to emigrees from the former Czechoslovakia.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge
 Image Courtesy © David Grandorge
 Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge As a gathering place for Czechs and Slovaks living in and visiting London, Velehrad is designed to host a variety of events, accommodate the practical needs of the organisation and reflect its history and culture. The resultant work by IBLA creates a welcoming and adaptable cultural centre for Velehrad London that combines modern features and designs with historic renovations and extensions, bringing a Victorian property into the 21st Century.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge Previously occupying a residential building in Notting Hill, the organisation bought Woolborough House – formerly the home of Russian ‘Maitre de Ballet’ Edouard Espinosa then headquarters of the British Ballet Organisation – and commissioned IBLA to refurbish and reconfigure the premises. The brief asked for spaces including a concert/function hall and performance space, classrooms, accommodation for visiting priests, prayer rooms and spaces for meetings and community events.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge Discussions with the clients about the requirements for their varied activities segued into conversations about the importance of history, its presence and one’s place within it. The site was made of up three parts – the original 1870’s villa, an 1880’s coach house and a single-storey 1930’s studio – IBLA worked to renovate and improve on each part without losing any of the unique character and to rationalise the varied designs as a whole for a coherent visitor experience.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge The coach house’s original facade was restored after demolishing a series of poor quality single-storey extensions from the 1930s. Plaster finishes were stripped away and the spaces reconfigured to allow the existing openings (lined in new grey-painted timber) to lead through into new cloakrooms, a kitchen and an apartment for visiting priests above. The front facade and metal roof trusses of the studio were retained and incorporated into a new function hall for concerts, lectures, cinema screenings and events. An innovative retractable screen wall was installed in the hall to separate sections of the centre for events. Further space to serve community events was added in front of the coach house and green rooms and ancillary spaces for performances tucked into the basement of the main house.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge This function hall also opens out to the lush garden behind the house for visitors, which includes a memorial to Czech political protester Jan Palach, by the renowned Czech Sculptor František Bělský, which was originally installed in a window niche on the side of the Velehrad house in Notting Hill. Woolborough House itself was fully refurbished and upgraded to accommodate classrooms, reading rooms and a space for Catholic masses. A new lift to allow disabled access, new stairs, handrails, painted panelling and a rear balcony were also incorporated into the extensive refurbishment by IBLA.w niche on the side of the Velehrad house in Notting Hill. Where the original fabric was found to be in good condition, this was carefully repaired and restored; where it was in poor condition, it has been improved with new construction.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge Newly built elements are understood as a continuation of the history of the building; a seamless synthesis of old and new, which respects, preserves and re-frames the existing context in a new light. Viewed from the garden at the back, or from the front of the site, this can be read in the varied tonal range of the brickwork across the facade.  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge  Image Courtesy © David Grandorge Patrick Inglis, co-founder and Director of Inglis Badrashi Loddo said of the project ‘Creating a varied and functional new home for such a fantastic and culturally significant organisation as Velehrad was an amazing opportunity and experience. We’re extremely proud of the building we’ve created for them and how it combines the charm and history of the original property with practical improvements and IBLA’s aesthetic for clean and contemporary architecture’. Velehrad London was shortlisted for the AJ Retrofit Awards 2017.  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo Inglis Badrashi Loddo Inglis Badrashi Loddo is a small, friendly, design-led architecture practice based in Central London. Formed in 2000 by Directors Patrick Inglis, Jamal Badrashi and Kim Loddo the practise has created a wealth of buildings in the capital from mixed-use housing to beautiful family homes, from cultural centres to work in the education and retail sectors. Inglis Badrashi Loddo focus on strong design and context, retention of historical qualities within buildings and delivering intelligent, contemporary architecture. Directors at IBLA teach at University of Cambridge, Birmingham University and Sheffield University and sit on boards of the RIBA and Association of Consultant Architects.  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo  Image Courtesy © Inglis Badrashi Loddo
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