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FEATURE ARTICLES...
RESTORATION FIT FOR A QUEEN By Peter Arnold RIBA (NH ’60 & Past Parent) I formed the architects practice Arnold & Boston with Barry Boston in 1971. Through the 1980s and 1990s we carried out a substantial body of work for the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Household, the British Museum, Peter Arnold at College the Imperial War Museum and many other institutions with historic building portfolios. A particular skill for which we became known involved the insertion of high-quality contemporary architecture within an historic context. Our appointment at Armoury House and Finsbury Barracks by the HAC and TAVRA followed our extensive record of achievement in this area. Our program was a). The restoration where necessary of the 17th Georgian structure of Armoury House with its 18th Century wing additions. This was a Grade 2 Star Listed Historic Building overlooking the iconic Artillery Ground – an archery practice field during the Middle Ages, sited immediately north of the original London Wall. The Artillery Ground was also a plague burial ground of historic importance and its continued use as open space is protected for 600 years by Royal Charter. Armoury House also required the rebuilding of areas damaged by a bomb attack during the 1980s, b). The stripping back of the worn structure and façades of the 19th Century Victorian Grade 2 Listed Finsbury Barracks, which also faces onto City Road, and the rebuilding of its interior as the new Active Unit of the HAC and c). The demolition of the 1920s link building overlooking the Artillery Ground and located between the two historic structures, and its rebuilding to house the larger scale facilities for the Active Unit. Within such an historic context, it was no surprise that the project came up for detailed scrutiny at every stage of the design process from the various Client bodies and the Planning & Conservation Authorities. The design proposals for the two historic structures were less controversial as they mainly involved conservation and restoration works. The new link building was the most sensitive element of the design solution. The Georgian Group’s advisors sought that the new link structure should be in the Georgian style of Armoury House. The Victorian Society preferred that the CastleGothic Victorian style of Finsbury Barracks should be carried across the link building to Armoury House.
With such divergent views, through a series of Feasibility Studies and Presentations, I worked up a contemporary solution. My design would form a contrasting but complementary neighbour to the historic structures on either side. After detailed consultations, this approach satisfied the City of London Planning Authority, Islington Borough Planners, English Heritage, the Royal Fine Arts Commission and all the other conservation bodies and local interest groups that we were required to consult with. Most importantly we had the full support and enthusiasm of our Clients and the project was underway in 1992. For the main elevation of the link building I chose two natural stones as the cladding to complement the scale, texture and colour of each of the neighboring structures. A richly dark ochre Juparana granite from Brazil was layered across the link with a lighter Jura Limestone from the Black Forest in Germany. This dual stone façade was articulated between two new turrets appearing almost as ‘knuckles’ that joined to the two historic structures. The main façade was canted back to address the middle of the Artillery Ground from the centre of which it can be seen face-on as with Armoury House. A stainless steel ceremonial saluting gallery forms the dominant feature of the link building’s front elevation.
Fields Burial Ground, immediately behind and adjacent to Armoury House, had to be temporarily relocated. This historic grave was carefully protected throughout. I designed one of the new turret structures as a Museum to house the Greenwich Armour, owned by the HAC. The armour was made for Henry VIII and had previously been exhibited in the Tower of London. On the day that the Queen formally opened the project, in excess of 5,000 people attended a grand ceremony located across and in every corner of the Artillery Ground. The HAC was celebrating its 450th Anniversary and as such it is the oldest Military Body in the world. The Queen showed great interest in the project, its history and its concept, I was privileged to elaborate upon this during our tour of the buildings.
The façades of Finsbury Barracks were in Kentish Ragstone and had crumbled to a dangerous degree. They were almost entirely stripped off and replaced with newly quarried matching ragstone. The overall composition is one of due deference to the existing historic structures but without a bland subservience to their historic styles. Late 20th Century Architecture was making an important statement, whilst paying due respect to our heritage and the historic context of this most important of Conservation Areas. The construction went smoothly and the Active Unit was able to operate throughout in temporary onsite facilities. As was expected many historic artifacts were found on site and the Museum of London kept a watching brief throughout. Some of the stones on John Bunyan’s grave in Bunhill
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