Dehavilland Studios, Theydon Road, London E5

This live/work warehouse space of over 1,400 sq ft occupies a corner position on the second floor of Dehavilland Studios, a former aircraft factory. The building was designed in the 1930s by Sir Owen Williams and retains its industrial character with raw concrete pillars and double-aspect steel-framed windows. Towering over the River Lea, Dehavilland Studios is an arresting piece of British design history in the heart of Hackney.

The Building

Designed by the engineer Sir Owen Williams, the building was used during World War II as a ‘shadow factory’, producing aircraft components to be sent for use in the war. Parts for ‘The Mosquito’ were made here, a wooden plane designed by the eponymous Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. Today, it stands as a superb example of modernist architecture in London, with its interior spaces turned into a series of open, loft-style studio apartments by the award-winning developer Hollybrook.

The Tour

Entry to the apartment is on the second floor of the building, reached via stairs and a lift. The door opens to a handy entrance hall with built-in storage for jackets and shoes.

Inside, the apartment is wonderfully open-plan, with plywood floors finished in a soft grey running underfoot and exposed concrete ceilings soaring overhead. Tall casement windows and raw concrete mullions stretch across the south and west-facing walls of the apartment, bathing the space in light.

One side of the space is arranged as a work studio, with the kitchen, living and dining area on the other side. The kitchen is composed of rows of white cabinetry with polished granite surfaces, integrated appliances and plenty of storage. A dining table is currently placed at one end, although the plan's openness lends itself to flexible configurations. 

A sleeping space is creatively carved out by bookcase walls that act as decorative display panels. The bathroom has built-in lacquered MDF cabinetry that playfully contrasts with the stainless steel bathtub.

A designated parking space for the apartment can be found in the building's car park.

Area Guide

The building is well-located for the best of Clapton. It sits a five-minute walk from the River Lea, and just a few minutes’ walk from the shops, bars, restaurants and cafes of Homerton High Street and Mare Street. Of note are local wine bar and shop 107, Charles Artisan Bread and My Neighbours the Dumplings on Lower Clapton Road.

The weekly food market on Chatsworth Road is easily reached in under fifteen minutes by foot and Hackney Picture House, London Fields Lido and the Grade II*-listed St John at Hackney, an 18th-century chapel and live music venue, are also located nearby. 

As for green space, Springfield Park is a pretty arboreal spot to the north, with the open expanse of Hackney Downs to the south. Hackney Marshes runs alongside the River Lea and its footpath, which connects to Hertford Union Canal on the south-east side of Victoria Park. The footpath is a beautiful walk, with The Anchor and Hope a lovely spot to stop and watch over the river.

Clapton Station is around an eight-minute walk away, and runs Overground services towards Liverpool Street for connections into the city and across London. The area is also well-served by buses.

Tenure: Share of Freehold (live/work)
Lease Length: Approx. 87 years remaining (the seller has already begun the process to extend the lease to 999 years)
Service Charge: Approx. £4,215 per annum
Ground Rent: N/A
Council Tax Band: D