This refurbishment presented a unique opportunity for the rebirth of the Warburg Institute, to open its hidden collections up to new audiences and facilitate a more public-facing programme.

The Warburg Institute is a world leading centre for the study of art and culture, founded in Hamburg at the turn of the 20th Century by historian Aby Warburg. Exiled to England when the Nazis came to power in 1933, the institute became part of the University of London in 1944. Since 1958, the Warburg has been housed in the last building designed by Charles Holden.

The Warburg Renaissance project enabled the Institute to inhabit a building that was becoming outdated and unfit for use. It had not been substantially updated since it opened; building services were failing and Warburg’s cataloguing system had become dispersed due to capacity. Teaching spaces were constrained and technically outdated, inhibiting the Institute from growing their study and events programmes.

The brief was expanded beyond the repair of the long-neglected fabric and infrastructure, to include new and enhanced spaces, a purpose-built lecture theatre, a flexible public gallery, improved teaching spaces and new storage and study areas for the Library, Archives and Special Collections. The expansion of the library has increased capacity for 20 years future growth, facilitating full reinstatement of Warburg’s unique cataloguing system.

The project is set to achieve SKA Gold rating in line with the UoL’s sustainability strategy. Sustainability improvements include significant upgrades to efficiency of lighting & heating services, connecting to the UoL district heating network and new Air Source Heat Pumps. Library windows have been fitted with UV film and secondary glazing reducing overheating, improving thermal insulation and much of Holden’s original furniture has been reused.

The redevelopment opens up views inside the Institute, revitalising connections to the world-leading, local academic community, creating an accessible welcome to audiences visiting for the first time. The public gallery provides an important, public-facing introduction to the Warburg Institute and the wider SOAS.