As part of Charterhouse School’s ongoing campus transformation, the project comprises a 550m² extension and the full refurbishment of the school’s Modernist-style art, design, and technology buildings.
Originally designed by James Dartford in 1957, the existing studio complex has been reconfigured, upgraded, and expanded to form a cohesive Creative Arts Centre. The design mediates between the school’s historic Gothic architecture and the Modernist form of the original building through a contemporary interpretation of traditional materials.
The new extension features a distinctive façade of vertical clay profiled tiles, referencing the historic clay tile banding found across campus. A new glazed link connects the three department buildings, serving as both a central hub with shared entrance, gallery spaces, and a landscaped courtyard for outdoor learning and social interaction.
Internally, the scheme supports a wide range of teaching and learning activities — from collaborative studios and specialist workshops to informal seminars and exhibitions. Circulation spaces double as gallery areas, while a shared fabrication lab unites traditional and digital making practices.
Designed to be net zero carbon in use, the building integrates passive environmental strategies, ground-source heat pumps, and rooftop photovoltaics, ensuring long-term sustainability and energy efficiency.
