Second Home London Fields / Estudio Cano Lasso Arquitectos

Architects: Estudio Cano Lasso
Area: 1813 m²
Year: 2019
Manufacturers: Lastra y Zorrilla, Coopers Fire
Lead Architects: Gonzalo Cano Pintos
Design Team: Gonzalo Cano Pintos, Diego Cano Pintos, Alfonso Cano Pintos
Clients: Second Home
Engineering: Webb Yates Engineers
Landscaping: Noel Kingsbury
Consultants: EXA Group UK Ltd.
Collaborators: Alfonso Nebot, Ignacio de la Vega Copado, Rosa Cano Cortés, Gerardo Martín, Ana Pardo, Ana Olalquiaga Cubillo, Rocío Marina Pemán, Alfonso Cano Abarca, Carlota Galán Daries
City: London
Country: United Kingdom

Second Home London Fields, designed by Estudio Cano Lasso Arquitectos, is a revitalized space located in Hackney, East London—a vibrant neighborhood renowned for its creative community. This project breathes new life into the former Morly House theatre site, skillfully blending elements of the old theatre with the innovative co-working program offered by Second Home. The design features a modern ETFE membrane façade and dynamic interiors that foster creativity, striking a balance between respecting the site’s historical essence and aligning with Hackney’s evolving identity as a hub for trends and creativity. Over the years, Hackney has transformed from a marginal working-class area into a lively locale for young, middle-class designers and artists pushed out from the city center. With its diverse co-working spaces, free event venues, café, and nursery, Second Home plays a pivotal role in supporting the community’s burgeoning activities and providing new opportunities in this now-popular part of the city.

Second Home London Fields / Estudio Cano Lasso Arquitectos

One of the project’s goals, alongside Hackney’s transformation, was to effectively adapt Second Home’s program to a building situated in the well-located Westgate Triangle, opposite Broadway Market. This building had a noticeably heterogeneous character, resulting from significant alterations over time. Originally the Morly House theatre, built in the 1800s during the revival period, it lost its frontage and historic façade during WWII bombings. In the 1960s, a four-story structure was constructed on the remains of the old theatre, giving the building a contemporary façade reflective of that era’s style.

The strategy centered on two key interventions. First, the façade needed to serve as a new reference point, signaling a shift from tradition to trend. Second, the interior was reimagined using the “illusion’s theory” to break away from the usual monotony. Second Home’s diverse program and innovative spirit opened up numerous possibilities, enhancing the limited original elements of the old theatre. The development of the façade was a lengthy process, starting with a few utopian proposals. However, the concept of creating a veiled façade was present from the outset. This veil invites multiple interpretations, making the act of viewing an ongoing experience, not confined to a single moment or the mere confirmation of appearances.

The veiling underwent a process of exploring different materials before settling on the ETFE membrane as the final choice. This membrane serves as surface, texture, and form, maintaining a consistent dimensional relationship between applied force, gravity’s reaction, and the resulting curvature. In the internal intervention, careful attention was given to the relationship between space and the quality of atmosphere, focusing on how this interaction influences the experience of the space. The aim was to move beyond the superficial and conventional coding of functionalist design, creating a more profound and engaging environment.

At the heart of Second Home’s spirit is a commitment to fantasy, invention, and craftsmanship—embracing lightness and fragility, transparency, light and color, and a connection to nature. Working with natural tectonics allows for an exploration of the relationship between nature’s organic forms and the synthetic logic of geometry. The focus is on how nature’s tectonics interact with inertia, gravity, and rigid spaces, viewing architecture as a lens for perception and a means of understanding these underlying forces.