Oxford House
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![The outside of a red brick building with an access ramp and steps leading up to its black doors. A bright orange signboard stands at the entrance.]()
New interpretation, way-finding and branding for a vibrant community arts centre.
Oxford House, Bethnal Green, 2019, NHLF funded, Grade II Listed Building, Architecture by Dannatt Johnson Architects.
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![Three framed images hang in the corner of a room next to a paned window: an old photo of a boys club, a red sign saying “Love Bethnal Green”, and a colour photo of two smiling Somali women. Text labels on the wall provide more information.]()
Oxford House was originally built in 1884 as a University Settlement House. Visiting students volunteered to provide practical support to alleviate the impact of poverty on the local community through adult education classes, youth clubs and labour exchanges. Today it is a vital community hub, with a theatre, gallery, dance studio, cafe, Victorian chapel and rooftop terrace.
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![An orange wayfinding sign with white text mounted on a red-brick wall next to a window. The text reads: “Scott Room” with an icon of stairs leading up, and the words “Stairs to: Dance Studio. Offices.”]()
The site underwent a major refurbishment in 2019. We were appointed in 2018, and commissioned to uncover and re-present their heritage, and shine a light on the role Oxford House has played in the local community over the past 130 years.
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![A black exhibition label with white text sits on a small black shelf next to a paned window. It describes Mahatma Gandhi giving a speech from this window in 1931.]()
We created a series of tableaus and interventions for the in-between spaces of the building, to reveal hidden stories. These included curated materials from the archive which were exhibited in themed displays across three floors, and discreet signage that drew attention to historically significant parts of the building such as Gandhi's window.
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![A disused fireplace halfway up a wall at the corner of a staircase. It is surrounded by 2D wall graphics which show items which would have surrounded it – a mirror on the wall, a vase on the mantlepiece, a coal basket.]()
We also used graphic imagery to highlight former architectural details such as this fireplace which now hovers on a staircase, and doors which have been removed over the years.
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![A dark wooden door with a frosted window panel and a wooden sign reading “Chapel” stands open, leading into a modern hallway with glassed doors and walls leading to other rooms.]()
We designed bespoke glazing manifestations based on original glazing details within the building, and used typographic interventions on glass doors to highlight aspects of the building's history. We designed signage and way-finding throughout the building to cater to its daily users.
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![View of the London skyline from a roof, with a green park and skyscrapers in the distance. Affixed to the railing is a map of the skyline with white line illustrations of key buildings and locations.]()
In addition to the landing interpretation we created viewing panels for the roof terrace and site specific art installations to contextualise hidden and old interior features of the building.
