High House Artists' Studios

High House Artists' Studios is a new-build development of affordable artists' studios as part of High House Production Park in Purfleet, Essex.

The purpose-designed, three-storey studio building comprises 39 self-contained studios and four work/live units. The ground floor contains seven large multi-purpose spaces suitable for large-scale making and public display; the two upper floors offer 32 studio units with four work/live units.

The building was developed in partnership with High House Production Park Limited and ACME Studios and is part-funded by Arts Council England’s capital fund. The 14-acre High House Production Park is a world-class centre for technical skills, crafts and artistic production and includes the Royal Opera House Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop (scene-making) and the National Skills Academy Creative & Cultural Backstage Training Centre.

The project was delivered for a construction cost of £850/m2, requiring a low-cost, robust and functional approach to the design. Heating was not provided to the studios on the basis that each studio would be metered, and charged separately, for electrical energy use in line with the ACME Studios energy strategy. Emphasis was placed on thermal fabric performance and efficient services with a 40m2 Photovoltaic array at roof level.

High House Artists' Studios won RIBA East Award 2014, RIBA East Emerging Architect of the Year 2014 and RIBA East Client of the Year 2014.