![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=4510ae3ff2210ecad7ac9d5ae8c164b1 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=608b19efc5c89f0390ed3b8335e696bf 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=63e1022c329dd06255cdcb8d20ca20a7 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=d6bf131a0c0f122de105e1eeca3e14ad 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=51920cca5e06c38e6301899c5efe6760 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=f808a7db4b4eae775bbefc4b5cb4d54f 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-reception_original-terrazo-stairCMake-Architects-4-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=5721f7d2346ac120a8547933566250a9 1920w)
Asta House involves the re-modelling of a 1950s light industrial building which more recently was used as offices. Setting a retrofit benchmark, the project reuses the existing building, adding extra floors. The existing fabric has been significantly upgraded to convert a dated block into a high quality, sustainable mixed-use development.
The building sits on a corner site where Whitfield and Chitty Street meet and has now been transformed by the practice into 36 design-led residences with a mix of 1-3 bedrooms and 10 social apartments and 4 intermediate apartments. Two extra storeys have been added to the original 4 storey building to accommodate a pair of penthouse apartments, adding some 25% to the total available area.
Make’s new top floors have been carefully stepped back to preserve the architectural integrity of Asta House. Make’s sensitive massing of the top level extension respects the conservation area’s neighbouring buildings.Make’s approach has been to retain as much as possible of the original Asta House façade as well as its structure. The design assimilates existing freestanding columns leaving these exposed where appropriate to emphasise the historic character and semi-industrial quality of the building and minimizing repetition within the apartments themselves.
Interior finishes
The interiors of Asta House are pared down yet welcoming in their use of materials and colours. These work well with natural light and are robust and high quality whilst mirroring the gravitas and dignity of the building’s sober external envelope. To create contrast in the interiors, black detailing has been used against a white background and rougher tactile finishes have been juxtaposed with smooth surfaces.
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Functional walls with integrated joinery for storage have been designed as part of the fit-out with wardrobe units that act as wall-like partitions and a series of pocket doors open up or divide the space as necessary. In some apartments, Make have positioned the bathroom as an island with kitchen, wardrobes and storage around its perimeter creating a pod-like effect, beautifully detailed in dark timber veneer.
At Asta House the existing top-lit terrazzo staircase has been meticulously restored and is flanked by Crittall-style windows to draw natural light into the corridors. Make designed a striking full height light for the stairwell with 18 individual pendants that complements the Modernist aesthetic of the space.
External Space and Commercial Space
Access to outdoor space has been an important part of Make’s design both at Asta House. The two penthouses both have extensive private decks and the other apartments in the building share a courtyard terrace backing Charlotte Mews. All residents will also benefit from Poets Park – a 240 square metre pocket park planted with which picks up on the smaller parks and squares hidden between the streets of Fitzrovia. Poets Park will have a small café and will also benefit the occupiers of the commercial element of the project.
Reducing the carbon footprint to the lowest practical level during demolition, construction and occupation has been a key driver. This has been chaieved by retaining as much of the façade and structure as possible as well as including triple glazing and additional insulation, openable windows and a solar hot water heating panels to preheat domestic hot water for the whole building. The apartments have been designed to the Ecohomes standard, achieving an “Excellent” rating.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=c0df06dbe3afc906433d8aab65e835cf 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=7813b705b6bb550ce2c13313cb3d551a 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=ca5480bdba93c4cde4d09d7abcf704cb 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=df2adf06a3a029f043a0ba554a73973a 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=205f7367135398d61fe0ea22619d264a 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=d46036c21ceddb10744d7a0729f7518f 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAsta-House-penthouse-terrace_CMake-Architects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=bbaa672896f5f08f9088f4b159c8cd77 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=0b88e29ac65e277e0ea84ffa4a9f4d84 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=e7a96b71942b6983c238e98f71865dee 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=287b87615f05a3c13ce6e0e8395146ce 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=f5bf3c148e69855709a2e06e6f41cc81 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=b5330e8746a924357194cbfd1d087be1 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=33ff55ea44f2714ac09d1ffa77130419 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-2cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=2d2f1a60396ccd6a224709204d76d84b 1920w)
Kunwook Kang, Project Architect said: “The modern, yet intimate scale and design of this project aims to appeal to those who want a character-rich home in this bohemian area. Externally the project is completely respectful of its location, chiming with surrounding colours and massing. Internally our choice of materials was key. We’ve created smooth, consistent interiors that make the most of original features and crafted new ones to provide not only functional, efficient homes, but also spaces that delight.”
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=88cefa1d4a301038cab99d2e6e7e1f76 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=02804d107ed964ea6e840aa651781eb0 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=a0fc417d5c3011d4ae7a6d70ed65d579 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=18e82157ba33eef889f994e3a8032d6d 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=5a05157ee874c06242b3e49ee3dc6933 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=a2d3b6e0af9c4a0fe5f3828d5d4714cb 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-3cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=7434af57539338fe5940d720181c307e 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=315&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=71afb85a602fceec8b026722d13c474d 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=630&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=d76e3a2d3f1ed689d3d00487109f7557 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1152&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=c1794332b7a8ee8a5def9639845dd22d 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1537&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=69940c7440496c632e627bed8ce4cd0a 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2101&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=a7201ec2b2f224867b2d7fca79915958 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2401&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=75ab95b0536d0526ec85f7c1abdd72b3 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-4cJackHobhouse-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2881&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=b9aa960aa32dc0832c49b17f8b6b7861 1920w)
The ground and lower ground floors of Asta House were formerly the home of Make Architects for over eight years and have been retained as 1,000m2 of refurbished workplace, now occupied by engineering firm Elliott Wood.
The 80 Charlotte Street project also includes affordable residential located at the eastern corner of the main 80 Charlotte Street block. The Charlotte Apartments comprise 19 homes for private letting.
There are seven apartments remaining at Asta House, a 1 bedroom unit at £1,050,000, 2 bedroom units are priced from £1,675,000 whilst 3 bed apartments start at £2,200,000.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=85c17fd5ae84168748e930491393c900 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=c9e5fddba9fbd9b0e3b019f189bc38dd 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=371ce7030ce3f4a44231eea701b7d502 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=682&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=dd7ea665e564a1720d88e03f59aaea4c 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=5eac671c70fbfb4b1969a16d9ff5a42c 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1066&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=3178fc80d67ca1d5442a582d40555fc8 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAsta-House-6cMakeArchitects-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=aba126ec195439d1cbbd4e0caf5b62e7 1920w)