The Pannetts Building

ABIR Architects were appointed in 2013 to undertake the conversion and refurbishment of this early 20^th Century grain store building within the Cliffe Conservation area of Lewes.

The building was previously occupied by a retail unit at ground, first and second floor and a small artist studio at third floor. The internal spaces were largely empty, with dilapidated surfaces and fixtures, a leaking roof, broken windows and damp walls. Uniquely, an insitu concrete frame structure had been constructed inside the original building fabric that retained many historic features such as overhanging hoist housings, goods doors and large concrete silos concealed above a suspended ceiling at ground floor and forgotten within a void along the south wall at first and second floor.

The brief was to convert the space ready for an incoming, hi-tech manufacturing company and to provide them with customer demonstration space, staff offices, client meeting rooms, welfare and storage.

ABIR were keen to preserve the industrial heritage of The Pannetts, avoiding modern surface linings that would conceal the concrete frame and brickwork. The concrete silos have been adapted and utilised for cellular spaces of meeting rooms, kitchens, wc’s and the staircase.