As part of this year’s Open House 2022 line up, Sarah Wigglesworth is throwing the doors of her north London home and her architectural practice’s studio open to the public. Since it was built 22 years ago, 9-10 Stock Orchard Street, aka the Straw Bale House and Quilted Office, has been lauded for its innovative use of materials (straw bales, sandbags, gabion walls, fabric cladding), green credentials and unconventional, ideas-driven design. The London building (winner of the 2004 RIBA Sustainability Award) serves as Wigglesworth’s home, workspace and as an ongoing research project.
“I have always seen this building as a plaything for us as architects; we built it expecting to always be working and developing it,” Wigglesworth explains.
The building is featured in Open House’s 30th Anniversary Album. It is the first time the building has been accessible as part of Open House since 2001.
75 people in three groups will be given tours of both interconnected spaces. Each tour will last approximately one and half hours and will be occurring at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Saturday 17th September.
This is the first time the public will be invited to view the house since its eco-retrofit was completed in 2019. The extensive works involved upgrading many of the eco-technology aspects, resulting in a 62 per cent reduction of its annual carbon dioxide emissions.
As part of the retrofit Wigglesworth implemented design elements that addressed the anticipated needs she and her partner Jeremy Till will have as they age, including installing a carer’s suite, designed to help the couple live in their home for as long as possible.
Visitors during Open House will also finally get the chance to see portions of the previously postponed SWA25 exhibition – a celebration of 25 years of Sarah Wigglesworth Architects which had to be put on hold as the Covid pandemic was gaining a grip in 2020. The exhibition will consist of artwork by individual practice members responding artistically to their favourite SWA project. It will also include work by Becky Shaw, SWA’s Artist in Residence during its 25th anniversary year (2019).
Open House with Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, 10.30am 1.30pm and 3.30pm slots on Saturday 17thSeptember – Sarah Wigglesworth Architects: 9-10 Stock Orchard Street London, N7 9RW
