Page 101 - AIT0920_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design Transit Studio, GB-London
Bauherr • Client Exit Here, Chiswick, GB-London
Standort • Location Chiswick High Rd, GB-London
Nutzfläche • Floor space 120 m 2
Fotos • Photos Agnese Sanvito
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 126

FUNERAL INSTITUTE

IN LONDON

Breaking taboos related to death, making the surroun-
dings as accessible and comforting as possible for mour-
ners — that was the intention of the client. The architect
was immediately taken with the unusual task of rethin-
king the future of funeral homes. Previously, the two had
jointly created the interiors of a restaurant, and the con-
cept for Exit Here was to be equally life-affirming.

O liver Peyton was one of the stars of London's nightlife scene in the
1990s, before he decided to turn his attention to gastronomy. In
2019, when he was looking for support required for the conversion of
the Royal Academy Café, he commissioned Ben Masterton-Smith and
his architecture firm Transit Studio with the project. Meanwhile, the
café adds colour to and breathes new life into the venerable old walls
of the Academy building and has proven to be very successful. Peyton's
next project, which he proposed to Masterton-Smith, was "so extraordi-
nary that I couldn't say no," recalls the director at Transit Studio. The
brief was to give funeral parlours a contemporary look. The interior de-
sign had to make their interiors more accessible, comforting and encou-
raging, provide a life-affirming environment for grieving relatives in dif-
ficult times, where personal care is easier than in a gloomy, bureaucra-
tic atmosphere. The idea was to achieve a calming effect by creating a
domestic environment. As you walk in, the rooms appear bright, clear
and welcoming. From the entrance area, a wide, curved corridor provi-
des access to two separate meeting rooms — the larger is designed as a
living room, the smaller as a dining room — and the contemplative fare-
Grundriss • Floor plan well room. The mixture of contemporary and vintage furniture, vibrant
colours and light-coloured wooden floors evoke associations of a home
with sunny, cheerful furnishings. And even the openness caused by the
large shop window front can be regulated by means of a wooden slat-
ted privacy screen without dampening the atmosphere. Nothing re-
minds the visitor of the sad occasion that brought them here; even the
coffins and urns on display have been subjected to a thorough design
revision. With a clear symmetrical structure, vibrant and bright colours
or hand-painted ornamentation, they seem to be more turned towards
life than death. "We hope that our work can help to break down attitu-
des and taboos relating to death so that people can ultimately really
choose how they want to be remembered and celebrated," explains Ma-
sterton-Smith. Oliver Peyton is now working on cool funeral songs to
Särge in symmetrischem Design, in Uni-Farben oder individuell bemalt. • Coffins in plain colours or individually painted. breathe even more life into the subject of funerals.

AIT 9.2020 • 101