Curry House

The conversion of an Indian restaurant on the Thames Estuary for use as an arts space and residency. Considered decisions were made about what should be retained, to preserve the evocative qualities of the building’s history. The colourful facade charismatically draws people in. Remnants of arches remind visitors of the former restaurant. Diffuse daylight brought in through large new rooflights is suggestive of the tranquil skies of the surrounding Essex landscape. Encaustic tiles reclaimed from a temporary exhibition were carefully cleaned and relaid as a colourful carpet throughout the ground floor, knitting the different spaces together.