Stratford Facility Enters Operational Mode

Stratford Facility Enters Operational Mode

Hitting Reset on a Bygone Factory: Studio MUTT Revitalizes Stratford's Historical Printworks

Words Ann Dingli Photos Jim Stephenson

Step inside the revamped Stratford Workshops, a 128-year-old printworks once home to the Great Eastern Railway's printworks. Liverpool-based practice Studio MUTT stepped in, transforming the forgotten factory into a modern workspace for today's creatives.

Built back in 1893, the structure's golden era was marked by the churning of tickets, timetables, and posters in four open, stacked floor plates bathed in natural light. The printing process, aided by colossal steel beams, turned the space into a flexible haven. But over the years, the factory was fragmented into office cubicles, losing its original charm.

Now, General Projects has brought the scruffy relic back to life, entrusting Studio MUTT with the task of breathing new life into the building. To celebrate its previous glory, the design team set out to reveal the factory's hidden architectural treasures that had been long concealed or painted over.

The new elements, like the reception, doors, tea points, and washrooms, were designed in an industrial aesthetic, celebrating the site's industrial heritage yet keeping things fresh with contemporary twists.

The grand entrance beckons visitors with a heavy-duty metal door that slides open, unveiling glimpses of the reimagined studios. A major facelift began with the ground floor, featuring a metal sliding door, triangular canopy, and new signage, announcing the building's new identity as Stratford Workshops.

Custom-designed wooden structures with a nod to industrial machinery dot the interior, adding minimalist charm to the space. A large, panelled timber box houses modern meeting rooms and facilities, servicing as unexpected insertions amongst the original brick and steel bones of the building.

Colour was used strategically to guide occupants through the building. Burnt oranges and teals adorn the stairwells, kitchens, bathrooms, and furniture in common areas, while the factory's original I-beams remain in their neutral glory. This colour palette pays tribute to the hues of the machinery that once ruled the space and serves as a clear distinction between common and private spaces.

The redesign has injected new energy into the once-forlorn space. Scattered social pockets, such as kitchens, shared bathrooms, meeting areas, and breakout spaces, encourage interaction among tenants, addressing a deficiency in the previous layout. Unconventional spaces for encounters, like locker areas, further add to the building's charm.

Acknowledging the building's history of graphic design, Studio MUTT incorporated the Margaret Calvert's classic typography and geometric forms representative of the railway's tickets. The result: a dynamic, heritage-inspired brand identity that integrates seamlessly with the site's original character. External and internal murals further amplify this transition, reflecting the building's new role in the graphic design world.

Stratford Workshops isn't just about office space. It's a testament to the new chapter in a timeless story, fusing the past with the present in ways that ambitiously honor its history while ushering in a new era.

Credits

Client: General ProjectsArchitectural design: Studio MUTTFurniture, fixtures, and equipment: Studio MUTTGraphics and wayfinding: Studio MUTT in collaboration with Corbin WoodMechanical and electrical consultant: David Webb Associates

Insights: A thoughtful design approach merges nods to the building's industrial past with contemporary function and visual identity. Following best practices in adaptive reuse projects, the transformation prioritizes urban regeneration, connectivity, ecology, and heritage incorporation[1]. The redesign also places emphasis on creating places for social interaction and wayfinding to provide a cohesive and engaging experience for tenants.

[1] Based on enrichment data related to comparable adaptive reuse projects, such as Grimshaw’s Bath Gasworks and their focus on urban regeneration, ecological integration, placemaking, and connectivity.

1. The transformation of the Stratford Workshops, a historical printworks, has been inspired by financial investments from General Projects, aiming to convert the once-forgotten factory into a contemporary workspace.
2. The revitalization project, led by Studio MUTT, has incorporated elements of interior-design, as evidenced by custom-designed wooden structures and strategic use of color, reflecting the building's history in the graphic design industry.
3. As part of lifestyle changes and the trend of working in unique environments, the reimagined Stratford Workshops offers more than just office space, promoting social interaction among tenants and blending the past and present in a compelling way.
4. The adaptive reuse project follows best practices in the industry, placing emphasis on urban regeneration, connectivity, ecology, and heritage incorporation, much like other noteworthy projects such as Grimshaw’s Bath Gasworks.

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