Trellik Design Studio establishes a creative community hub at One and a Half East London

Photography by Ed Dabney and Mariell-Lind-Hansen

London-based architecture practice Trellik Design Studio has transformed a former photography agents’ office into One and a Half: a co-working studio, maker’s workshop and cafe for the creative community of East London.

Jean Dumas, founder of Trellik Design Studio, purchased the building in 2019 to retrofit the space ‘in the spirit of community engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration’ – delivering a home-like environment defined by natural materials and unexpected colour.

“We have intentionally kept the space intimate to reflect the typology that offers a dynamic, home away from home workplace,” Jean Dumas, Director at Trellik Design Studio says. “Post-pandemic working culture means that no one day is the same here in One and A Half Studios. This mirrors the energetic character representing various combinations of creatives in and out of the space. We want the place to flourish, with occupants using the spaces to host and launch events, and celebrate big or small achievements.”

Looking to celebrate the raw character and charm of the Victorian structure, Trellik restored and exposed the original timber rafters on each floor, working with local contractors to showcase a calm material and textural palette throughout the space. The practice’s commitment to material reuse is reflected in the retained original timber flooring, and in the repurposing of old floor joists to create characterful shelves on both upper floors. Previously existing photographers’ light boxes were also salvaged and modified with LED fittings for better energy performance and illuminating the workspaces from their position on the ceilings.

Each floor offers great flexibility for different functions; work, meeting, creative studio and utilities. The entrance opens to a multi-functional cafe and events area which steps down into a sunken makers workshop, which is currently in use as a natural fabric dye atelier. Original stairs up to the workspaces have been conserved and painted an uplifting cobalt blue, a colour replicated on stairs between the first and second floors defining circulation paths. A cornflower blue steel mezzanine hovers over the cafe, constructed with laser cut perforated steel to allow light to permeate the lower levels. The mezzanine operates as a breakout space, library, and has also played host to exhibitions and pop-up shops supporting not-for-profit enterprises in the local area.

Generous desk spaces offer tenants a flexible environment, resulting in a studio home to photographers, animators, graphic designers, architects and a public relations studio – creating the perfect space to serve East London’s renowned creative communities.