The Gilbert & George Centre

A masterful reimagination of an early 19th century brewery building, the restored centre honours the structure's industrial past while aligning with the artists' avant-garde concept of architectural spaces and art display. Wienerberger's range of bricks has played a pivotal role in this harmonious fusion, reflecting the building's illustrious origins while ushering it into the future.

London’s East End, located just beyond the boundary of the Capital, has a colourful past. At a time when industries such as brewing, textile dyeing, tanning, metalworking and entertainment were banned in the city of London, they thrived on these outskirts, attracting wealthy visitors to an otherwise squalid environment. Public buildings soon became platforms for protest, dissent, nonconformism and revolution. The stark distinction between wealth and squalor in London's East End has often been captured in literature. This contrast is mirrored in the Gilbert & George Centre, the home of the artistic duo, referred to in the singular. Located at 5a Heneage Street in London, the Centre is quickly emerging as an important cultural destination.

SIRS Architects faced several challenges during this project: the restricted site meant that a basement level had to be added under the pre-existing footprint of the building, in addition to a new above-ground extension. The underground was constructed using a complex top-down methodology, which necessitated the striking of 37 neighbouring parties – one of the UK’s largest party-wall awards at the time.

Another challenge was finding the right materials for the project which not only delivered in terms of practicality, but aesthetically too. Wienerberger's Smeed Dean Docklands Yellow Multi bricks and Smeed Dean London Stock Bullnose bricks were among the products specified, due to their close match in appearance to the existing London Stock brickwork.

Manuel Irsara, Co-Founder at SIRS Architects, explained: “While we wanted to design a highly sustainable, modern building, we also needed to pay homage to its colourful past. This meant blending the old historic fabric with new building parts. Wienerberger’s range is extensive and offered us the ideal aesthetic solution for this build.”

Perfectly contrasting the historical charm of the Gilbert & George Centre is a shining example of modern design, with sustainability woven throughout the building’s fabric. From the outset, the building's conception prioritised the judicious use of energy, water, and material resources, considering socio-economic and lifecycle factors to create a structure that treads lightly on the planet.

Passive design strategies were meticulously implemented, including measures to reduce the admittance of UV light and solar radiation, the incorporation of high thermal mass for stable internal conditions, and a high-performance, airtight building envelope to minimise energy demands for heating and cooling. These thoughtful choices were complemented by active design principles that further reduced the carbon footprint, such as a digital Building Management System with weather compensation, low-energy LED lighting with presence detection and automated control, an optimised recirculation ventilation system, and the use of harvested rainwater for horticultural irrigation.

Permeable courtyard paving supports sustainable urban drainage, while locally sourced and recycled materials, minimised demolition, and the re-use of original site materials further reduced the project’s environmental impact. Collaboration with local companies and craftsmen, coupled with in-house art storage facilities, aimed to curtail the carbon footprint associated with shipping and transportation. 

The result of this visionary project is a truly immersive Gilbert & George experience. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by a hand-forged wrought iron gate designed by the artists themselves, before passing through a secluded, cobblestone courtyard. Inside, a dimly lit reception area evokes the ambiance of Gilbert & George's nearby Georgian home. From there, visitors can explore three modern exhibition spaces tailored to showcase the artist's large-scale artworks. These galleries vary in size and atmosphere. Throughout, the entire visitor journey harmoniously blends old and new elements - from the building's design to the construction materials used and the innovative technologies integrated within the centre.

Manuel Irsara continued: “Our aim was to reinvigorate the area’s historic fabric, paying homage to the both the artist’s pioneering spirit and reverence for London’s rich and diverse cultural legacy, seeking to immerse visitors in the unique world of Gilbert & George through every detail. Gilbert & George have always thrived on having their voices heard and putting a distinctive stamp on their environment. The creation of their very first arts centre embodies their artistic vision perfectly.”