Raine’s House is a charity school founded by the philanthropist Henry Raine in 1719. Following extensive damage during WWII, the building has been used as a community centre since the late 1970s.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets approached us to revive the Grade II* listed building by modernising the interior spaces to support a broader mix of community activities.
Having delved into the building’s 300-year lifespan, we carefully unpicked added layers and reversed unsympathetic alterations to reinstate the historic plan.
New sash window in a traditional sage green improved the thermal envelope, and a pantile roof was replaced with reclaimed tiles.
Natural lime plaster was used to render the exposed original walls internally, while new lead guttering ensured water runoff was kept clear from the building fabric.
Two flexible rehearsal spaces were created at the centre of the ground and first floors, with back of house spaces – including WCs, changing rooms, kitchens and offices – consolidated into two wings.
A timber bar creates a focus for events in the larger rehearsal space, with services upgraded and a new platform lift added to provide level access.
Our sympathetic interventions have vastly improved the centre’s appeal as an affordable venue serving local people.
Raine’s House has become home to a children’s theatre charity as well as community meetings, senior clubs and performances for up to 50 people.
Completed in 2020, the project was a finalist in the Civic Trust and AABC Conservation Awards, which recognise the highest standards of positive community contribution and historic building conservation.
