Theatres, pubs, churches and schools, London has a long history of converting them into beautiful homes. We take a closer look at some fascinating examples of born-again buildings.
Converted buildings can offer some of the most interesting and practical living spaces in the capital. the long-established trend for re-imagining diverse buildings for Londoners to inhabit, looks to set to continue, particularly in prime locations. “strong demand in central London has meant a large number of commercial buildings have been converted to residential use, whether that’s pubs, former office buildings or other commercial spaces,” says Stuart Aikman, director at Dexters Fitzrovia.
PRACTICAL GRANDEUR
Even though these buildings didn't start life as dwellings, tasteful conversions can create exceptional homes. “Welldesigned apartment conversions can provide great living spaces to reflect modern life when compared to, for example, older purpose-built mansion blocks where you may have large corridors and entrance halls that today’s homeowners find less important than more spacious living areas,” says Stuart.
The rich histories of converted buildings are often part of their unique charm, whether that’s the quirkiness of living in a former public house, the foreboding of a converted school or the grandeur of an intriguing building such as Gatti House on The Strand. The original home of the Gatti family, headed by the Anglo-Swiss Adelphi Theatre manager and eminent politician Sir John Maria Emilio Gatti (1872–1929), today it consists of a number of exquisite apartments.
Image above: Gatti House on The Strand 
Image above: Gatti House on The Strand
“Conversions often retain original features. In Gatti House, for example, which once included the restaurant of the Adelphi Theatre, the developers celebrated the ornate style of the building and focused on bringing the original plasterwork and timber detailing back to life. It almost looks like something from a film set,” says Stuart.
In its heyday, the Adelphi’s restaurant was the place for West End stars to see and be seen. Over the years, the likes of Noel Coward and Oscar Wilde graced the dining room. The form of the restaurant frontage is still intact, with its polished granite pilasters. The original features of the first and second floors also remain, including elaborate hardwood doors that incorporate carved cats’ heads (‘gatti’ being ‘cats’ in the original owners’ Italian mother tongue).
WELL-DESIGNED APARTMENT CONVERSIONS CAN PROVIDE GREAT LIVING SPACES
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
If you’re considering buying or renting any converted property, it’s vital to look beyond its scale and impressive original features and seek assurances the building has been tended to by experts. Says Stuart, “You need to ensure the property has been developed by professionals. For instance, if you’re looking at a home converted from a Georgian townhouse, if the developer has not installed sufficient sound insulation between floors, you may hear footsteps from the floor above.”
However, by looking at conversions handled by expert architects and developers, you too could enjoy being part of London’s living history.
DEXTERS PICK OF THE BEST
We look at a superb selection of stunning conversions.
HOLLEN STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W1F
£1,425 pw/ £6,175 pcm
A modern and spacious two bedroom, two bathroom apartment situated on the first floor of this converted Victorian hat factory dating back to the 1880s and benefiting from two private patios.
QUEEN ELIZABETH STREET, TOWER BRIDGE, SE1
£895 pw/ £3,878 pcm
A three bedroom, two bathroom apartment set within a spacious warehouse conversion located metres from Tower Bridge. Transport links from London Bridge station are half a mile away.
HANWAY PLACE, FITZROVIA, W1T
£875 pw/ £3,792 pcm
This spacious two double bedroom duplex is positioned on the second floor of a converted Victorian school, centrally located in Fitzrovia. This apartment retains original features and has a large private roof garden.
