Lighting the Renovation of a Tudor Interior
Following our involvement in the first phase of works at the Charterhouse, Architainment again collaborated with Graham Festenstein Lighting Design (GFLD) on the renovation of the Great Chamber – the last surviving Tudor Great Chamber in London and one of the site’s most significant historic interiors.
Renovated to support events, exhibitions and public use, the Great Chamber required a lighting strategy capable of revealing architectural detail, supporting flexible use and remaining visually discreet within an exceptionally sensitive historic space.
The architectural design for this phase was developed by Richard Griffiths Architects, whose approach balanced respect for the Chamber’s historic character with the integration of contemporary services required for its renewed role.
Working closely with GFLD, Architainment designed and supplied bespoke housings and linear luminaires integrated discreetly within the existing ceiling coves. The custom housings were developed to conceal the light sources entirely, while delivering a soft, even wash of warm light across the richly decorated interior.
Every aspect of the lighting solution was shaped through close collaboration between designer and manufacturer, ensuring modern performance could be achieved without introducing visual clutter or disrupting the period fabric.
The completed scheme allows the Chamber’s portraits, timber detailing and historic surfaces to take centre stage, with the lighting itself remaining almost imperceptible.
Client: The Charterhouse, London
Architect: Richard Griffiths Architects
Lighting Design: Graham Festenstein Lighting Design
Photos courtesy of Graham Festenstein