Sensitively repurposing an East London warehouse into flexible workspace for local creatives - and our new studio

Completed in Summer 2026, Vyner Works sensitively revitalises an industrial warehouse on Vyner Street - a road rich in artistic and industrial heritage, and our home for the past few years.

At Studio Bark we’ve seen the street evolve, and we cherish its steadfast sense of community and character. Our approach celebrates the building’s "bones," designing for long-term resilience and adaptability. By zoning services and using a modular layout, we’ve ensured the interior can evolve alongside its inhabitants.

The fit-out utilises our demountable U-Build system - incorporating acoustic panels and glazed partitions to maximise natural light. The system requires no permanent fixings, so these modules can be reconfigured or repurposed as tenants' needs change.

The existing facade is rejuvenated with essential repairs and a bold colour palette that highlights the warehouse’s functional heritage. This is complemented by Jonny Glover's mural which celebrates Vyner Street's heritage of makers.

Inside, the fabric is upgraded with high-performance natural materials: wood fibre insulation, clay paints, and a cork ceiling, all set against the original refreshed concrete slab. The result is a healthy, versatile workspace for the local creative community - and our new studio.

Images before and during construction by Studio Bark.

External of Vyner Works by Studio Bark - Before — Image by Studio Bark

A Light-Touch Warehouse Retrofit

We’ve retained the existing structure, opening it up to reveal generous, light-filled spaces. The ground floor is a single cohesive space with natural light throughout. An existing opening is repurposed as a glazed doorway into the courtyard.

The first floor is divided into three workspaces of varying sizes, using U-Build glazed partitions to allow light to flood the entire space. The suspended ceiling has been removed, revealing a pitched roof that creates a generous sense of spaciousness, while windows are refurbished to improve their performance.

Outside, the warehouse’s character is preserved and celebrated, restoring and painting the existing brickwork and metal cladding with contrasting maroon and oatmeal tones. A courtyard which was used as a car parking space and bin store has been reinvigorated, removing the existing rubber and astroturf to create a secluded pocket of outdoor space. New benches offer tenants an area to gather and connect, with a bike store to support sustainable transport.

After image of Vyner Works in Studio Bark's workspace — Image by Jim Stephenson

Soft, Natural Interiors

Inside, the warehouse’s industrial character is softened with a natural material scheme. U-Build’s plywood surfaces offer a warm, natural backdrop to a palette of soft textures and colours.

Hemspan panels bring texture and acoustic qualities, while off-white cork lining the to the underside of the roof adds warmth. An off-white clay paint on top of existing blockwork provides an airy, neutral tone that ties the natural materials together. Soft blue accents feature throughout to compliment the external metalwork refreshed in a bold ultramarine.

A table designed and constructed by Studio Bark using timber from Making a Stand

Meeting room table at Vyner Works by Studio Bark

U-Build acoustic wall with hemspan panel

A Resilient, Low-Carbon Fit-Out

The environmental strategy at Vyner Works is based on retaining the existing structure and minimising new material additions. Refurbished windows and additional insulation improve operational performance, while low-VOC materials enhance indoor air quality for tenants.

The fit-out is resilient to future adaptation, as U-Build partitions can be demounted and reconfigured as tenant’s needs change. Compared to a typical office fit-out - which is often stripped out every five years - this 'Material Bank' approach reduces the 60-year lifecycle cost from £1,865 per sqm for traditional stud walls to just £681 per sqm for U-Build.

Exploded axonometric drawing of the Vyner Works fit-out — Image by Studio Bark

Creating Circular Fit-Outs With U-Build

The lifespan of an office fit-out is on average less than 5 years. By specifying the U-Build internal partition system, office layouts can be modified quickly and easily, saving both the cost and environmental toll of discarding materials and procuring new ones.

An additional wall created by Studio Bark and U-Build utilised U-Build boxes sourced from various previous projects, including the dividing wall from our previous studio, highlighting the ease with which U-Build can be reused time and time again due to the modularity of the system.

We’ve already seen this system in action over several office fit-out lifespans: at Sustainable Workspaces in County Hall, Sustainable Ventures saved on materials and carbon impact by having their fit-out first installed on the third floor, and then moved two years later to the larger fifth floor - providing them with more space and a second use of the same materials.

The system is crafted from non-toxic, low-VOC materials and is ready to specify with UK Building and Fire Regulation compliance.

Find out more about using U-Build for your commercial retrofit project here