AJ Retrofit Awards
Conservation Finalist
Property Week ESG Awards
Retrofit Finalist
AJ Architecture Awards
Heritage Highly Commended
Dezeen Awards
Heritage Project of the Year Longlist
Today, Voysey House stands renewed – its striking white glazed brick and Portland stone façade restored to its original splendour. Inside, Staffordshire blue quarry tiles wrap the reception and main stair, while finely crafted joinery echoes Voysey’s original detailing. Flexible floorplates provide generous workspace, complemented by end-of-journey facilities and amenity terraces within the internal lightwells. The restoration has been lauded as ‘subtle yet transformational’ by Historic England.
- Location
- Chiswick, London
- Size
- 19,440 sqft
- Client
- Dorrington
Dorrington PLC purchased Voysey House with a clear ambition: to give the much-loved yet ailing 1902 building a new lease of life. The purpose-built factory, which was later converted into offices, had endured piecemeal interventions that fragmented its character and weakened its street presence. The challenge was to restore CFA Voysey’s intent while equipping the building for a new century of use.
Before and After
The brief set out three priorities: revive Voysey House’s abundant architectural identity, create versatile, best-in-class workspace, and radically improve its operational efficiency. The vision was not about transformation for its own sake, but about carefully extending the life of a landmark, making it as practical as it is beautiful. Sanderson Design Group’s decision to return almost a century after leaving was a full-circle moment in the building’s story.
Elevations
Proposed North Elevation
Proposed West Elevation
Proposed South Elevation
Working closely with Historic England and Hounslow Council, we combined sensitive restoration with progressive sustainability measures. The façade was meticulously repaired, while ultra-thin double glazing – a heritage precedent – was installed in replica steel frames to halve U-values without altering appearance. Inside, floorplates were reconfigured to create permeability and flow, reinstating a welcoming street-level presence for Sanderson’s new showroom.
During Construction
Every intervention was guided by reuse and circularity: stripped timber flooring was repurposed, salvaged bricks reintegrated, and existing materials carefully repaired. Finishes honour CFA Voysey’s original detailing, with bottle-green tones, tactile joinery and vaulted rooflights reconnecting the building to its Arts & Crafts roots. The outcome is a subtle yet transformational retrofit – one that reduces carbon, restores character, and provides a workplace where history, sustainability and everyday use come together seamlessly.
Historic England has described the restoration as a “subtle yet transformational” project which demonstrates “the value historic places have in our national story”.
"Voysey bottle green"
We carried out detailed paintwork analysis to uncover CFA Voysey’s original colour palette, revealing a rich bottle green first chosen in 1902. To honour this, we reintroduced the tone across architectural metalwork, window frames and in the green terrazzo of the new bathrooms – a subtle but deliberate nod to the Arts & Crafts pioneer’s design intent.
