Old Sessions House

Feilden+Mawson were the project architect for the refurbishment of Grade II* listed Old Sessions House, formerly Middlesex Sessions House in a project that aimed to complete an extensive refurbishment to rectify unsympathetic alterations. The design vision aimed to enhance the beautiful historic features whilst accommodating modern use.

The refurbishment included the restoration of the Georgian courtroom, the restoration of a Georgian crown glass screen and addition of a complementary adjacent screen, the reinstatement of historic fireplaces, and well-considered modern additions. F+M also worked closely with the local authority and Historic England to carry out several feasibility studies. The historically informed design enabled F+M to remove detrimental modern accretions and maximise space by restoring the building’s original expansive floorplans.

The interior language is also a triumph, with a design vision that is a truly modern re-interpretation of space, set against the backdrop of faded grandeur. The past and the present coexist in the stripped walls, which expose layers of multitoned plaster and paint. Care and precision were taken to skilfully re-instate missing fabric where evidence and historic references can be found, whilst also leaving the building bare to tell its own story of history and change.