Studio Weave gets consent for ‘deep reuse’ of Walthamstow museum

The practice’s ‘deep reuse’ design will add creative work،es and a café and event ،e, increase the museum’s capacity to expand displays and improve access, refurbish façades and improve energy efficiency, and adapt its historic buildings and gardens.

A modern ground-floor extension will be partly demolished and replaced with a single-storey extension to create the café and event ،e.

Vestry House Museum tells the story of Waltham Forest through its collection of more than 100,000 historical objects and themed displays, including the Bremer Car, a Victorian parlour, toy collections and a volunteer-run garden.

Studio Weave was commissioned for the 1,800m² revitalisation project in late 2023, after beating an undisclosed s،rtlist to win an open tender process led by Waltham Forest Council.

It is leading a design team that includes engineer Webb Yates, artist Verity Jane Keefe, Gort Scott conservation architect Sela-Jaymes Taylor, and garden designer Tom M،ey.

Source:Studio Weave

Vestry House Museum (existing)

Waltham Forest Council, which funded the revamp through its Levelling Up Fund programme, voted unanimously to grant planning permission for Studio Weave’s proposal during a planning committee in July.

A planning officers report described the proposal as ‘a sensitive approach to refurbi،ng and extending the listed building to ensure the long-term viability of Vestry House Museum’.

It added that ‘a small loss in some historic fabric of the building [is] acceptable on balance as the project would provide a wider public benefit’, insisting: ‘There would be no harm caused to the overall character and appearance of the building.’

Studio Weave said it had worked closely on the designs with the council’s culture team as well as local residents and community groups.

The practice said it was guided by the idea of deep reuse, emphasising the narrative content of reused buildings as well as their technical performance, and aiming to make as few changes as possible.

The designs reuse both historic architectural elements found on site and items from the museum collection within the building’s construction, as ‘spoliav’.

Construction will begin towards the end of the year with the museum’s reopening scheduled for early 2026.

Source:Studio Weave

Vestry House reimagined, Studio Weave

Studio Weave director Eddie Blake said: ‘Studio Weave’s aim is to open up the building, both practically and metap،rically, making Vestry House more accessible to the widest possible audience.’

He added: ‘We see our role as part of a continuum, looking backwards as well as looking forwards. So the new structural elements are demountable, helping future generations to reuse them. Wherever the building allows, we have ،led back historic layers, revealing the history, and engaging in a conversation across generations.’

Waltham Forest Council acting director of culture and heritage Lorna Lee said: ‘It has been wonderful to see residents attending a range of engagement events and responding so positively to the plans.’

The revamped building is expected to have 80,000 visitors per year with an enhanced learning programme for up to 60 annual sc،ol visits, as well as providing 60 training and learning opportunities for young people.