Assemble to transform 15th-century Bromley Hall into creative studio

The architecture studio Assemble has secured a 25-year lease on Bromley Hall in Bromley-by-Bow, a 15th-century building believed to be one of London’s oldest surviving brick houses. The studio plans to transform the site into a creative workspace and civic infrastructure, describing it as their ‘most ambitious workspace project to date’.

As part of a phased retrofit strategy, Assemble will first establish its own studio within the building as a ‘proof of concept’ before offering purpose-built studios to the public. The project includes adding a rear extension and a new link building, while removing temporary structures like RedBox storage containers. The vision also extends to the neighboring Grade II-listed Old Polar Library, which the studio aims to restore in the long term.

Community access will be facilitated through the ground-floor Blount Room, a meeting space capable of accommodating up to 30 people. The room will be available to both studio holders and the public, with affordable rates designated for non-commercial uses. Assemble is launching a fundraising campaign to support the eventual purchase of the site.