We’re delighted that this exciting project has achieved planning approval to be developed into a national centre for illustration. The project will bring life to a derelict, yet grand, 17th century Thames Water engine house, and secure a permanent home for the House of Illustration, including gallery spaces, and an archive for the beautiful illustrations of Quentin Blake. 

Working alongside Tim Ronalds Architects, we were appointed to design low energy services that will conserve the heritage of this listed historic building, whilst meeting the strict environmental conditions required to display and store watercolour artwork. High efficiency heat recovery and significant improvement to the building fabric will reduce annual CO₂ emissions and energy consumption compared to conventional heating and cooling systems.  

• Passive design to provide a comfortable low energy building with environmental control.
• Temperature and humidity control in the art store and gallery spaces.
• An all-electric building with zero local emissions.
• Heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling.

“I am enormously proud to have my name associated with this international home for an art which I know and love, and for artists who speak in a myriad of visual languages but are understood by all. It is going to be amazing.” - Sir Quentin Blake, Illustrator.

The project is due to start on site in June 2022. 

Read what House of Illustration have to say about their new home, here.