The Club Row building sits on the ‘Rochelle School’ site; a pair of Grade II listed school buildings that used to serve the Shoreditch area. We were asked to implement a more radical transformation for the deteriorating Infants School in order to reintegrate it into the site and attract fellow creatives. The Client’s pragmatic needs were to bring the roof deck - originally an uncovered rooftop playground - into use, and to put an end to the terrible weather damage the building was suffering. The building is a rare example of the schools of Edward Robson, and plans for its development attracted significant local interest. We carried out extensive community consultations, setting up open meetings and presentations with local amenity groups, taking on board the wide desire to see the building respected. Detailed discussions with the conservation officer and local historians directed us to consider the intent of the original architect; natural ventilation and light; expressed structure; tall ceilings; and natural materials hand-fashioned by local artisans. In this spirit, we proposed a standing seam zinc roof, its structural strategy expressed internally through an exposed concrete ring beam sitting on rebuilt brick piers. We raised its height by 1.5m, allowing the upper floor space to share in the tall work and gallery spaces on the ground floor. Externally the weathered brick specials were replaced with new handmade bricks, and all ledges flashed to protect them from future damage. New oak windows and doors were introduced to maximise the incoming daylight, with window vents providing greater control over natural ventilation to occupants. Internally, alongside a detailed refurbishment a terrazzo stair and bronze handrails were introduced to connect the two floors. These materials are carried through the building in the thresholds, ironmongery and common spaces, creating an honest language of modern elements and natural materials.