Refurbishment of Hackney Town Hall, a Grade II Listed neo-classical building began at the beginning of 2008 and was undertaken in a series of phases. In 2012 Artifex London was consulted during the restoration of the Assembly Halls where the Art Deco style interior required a sensitive approach.

The company was invited by the architect HawkinsBrown to submit materials for the Bridgetown Bar and ultimately a beautiful green onyx from Pakistan was selected. Manufactured for Artifex London in Italy, the panels have been book-matched to create a symmetrical, seamless unit. Glass on the outside surfaces provides protection from damage and spills and a lighting unit underneath illuminates the entire structure evenly.

Hackney Town Hall and Square was built in Mare Street, East London between 1934 and 1937 to a design by Lanchester and Lodge and are part of Hackney’s architectural history. The old Town Hall was demolished and a formal square and gardens constructed in front of its replacement. It is one of the few examples of 1930s Town Hall designs in which walls, gardens, lighting and tree planting were incorporated as part of the original design and which are still, in large measure, in tact.

Hackney Town Hall operates as a venue which can be hired for conferences, events, weddings and private functions. The Bridgetown Bar, available as a private bar or VIP green room, accommodates up to 60 guests. For further details, please visit www.hackneyvenues.com

Artifex London would like to thank Siobhan Doran for kindly supplying photographs of this project as well as Chloe Sharpe at HawkinsBrown and Richard Male at Hackney Town Hall for their assistance.