London’s Soho is getting a creative boost thanks to YBA artist Damien Hirst, who has bought a seven-storey building in the neighbourhood for his new flagship studio and arts complex.
The 27,742 sqft Beak Street structure cost Hirst’s Science Ltd holding company £40m and will undergo an internal refit before opening early next year.
Hirst has tailored the London property – which was designed by practice Stiff + Trevillion and took three years to build – for his needs. Its second floor has towering 33-ft-high ceilings and is skirted with a mezzanine that doubles as a gallery and break-out working area.
Trap doors and openings also allow Hirst’s enormous scale works to be moved in and out of the building.
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