Contemporary British artist Damien Hirst has completed on the purchase of a £40 million headquarters building on Beak Street in the heart of London’s Soho, acquired from luxury commercial developers Enstar Capital and LandCap.
Developed in joint venture by Enstar Capital and Landcap, the 27,742 sqft Grade A commercial building, provides accommodation over basement, ground and five upper floors, and includes a 5,500 sqft restaurant let to Sticks n Sushi.
Acquired via Hirst’s company Science (UK) Ltd, the building will serve as Damien Hirst’s new flagship studio and art complex in the UK capital, and is currently undergoing a major fit-out in anticipation of opening in Q1 2019.
Designed by award winning architectural practice Stiff + Trevillion the new art studio and complex is one of the most carefully crafted architectural buildings in London’s West End.
The project received planning permission in November 2015, and the building has taken three years to build, with development costs of £20 million. The interior was finished as a perfect blank canvas for the incoming tenant to fit out to the own specifications. The fit-out is currently underway, scheduled for completion in early 2019.
Damien Hirst’s new art complex has an impressive façade that uses over 100 different glazed bespoke bricks. The bespoke iridescent turquoise colouring of the bricks was carefully cultivated and manufactured in Holland. The high level of craftsmanship to the building’s exterior offers visual stimulation and reflects the rich artistic context of the site.
The striking façade is complete with Art Deco style pediment and site-specific cast aluminum frieze and window surrounds.
The building has spectacular interiors ideal for producing and showcasing artwork. As part of Damien Hirst’s requirement for voluminous double height space, the second floor slab was practically removed, providing a vast double-height cathedral-like space with a 3,750 sqft floorplate and a 10 metre (33 ft) high ceiling, ideal for production and display of large-scale artwork for which the artist is renowned. There is a special raised mezzanine deck which looks into the cathedral space, providing a gallery space and break-out area for creative work and client entertaining.
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