Residents fight Anish Kapoor’s ‘prison-like’ studio extension
Plans by Caseyfierro Architects to extend Anish Kapoor’s studio in Camberwell, south London, have come under fire from local residents.
Neighbours say that the proposals, which involve building an additional office floor above the studio in Farmers Road, will block light into their homes, reduce their privacy and ‘make the surrounding area feel like a prison’.
The plans for the 220m² scheme include a double-height studio and office space covered in corrugated aluminium cladding.
Eleven planning objections hve been lodged and a petition against the scheme called Stop Anish Kapoor Stealing our Light and Colour has so far received 163 signatures.
One resident who commented on the planning application described the design as ‘ugly and selfish’ and ‘insulting to the local population’, adding: ‘My property is an inner-city property where one should enjoy the light and ambience an open sky should allow. The proposed plan would make the surrounding area feel like [a] prison.’
Another resident, who claimed to live in nearby Camberwell New Road, said the plans could cause ‘significant deteriorations [to] the light, outlook and experience’ to the rear of their property.
A further commentator said the extension would ‘reduce the amount of sky I get to see from my bedroom window’, as well as reducing the amount of light coming into their garden. The resident added that the would ‘not even house anything beneficial to the community and [would] not do anything for the local residents.’
Set up in 2006 and based in north London, Caseyfierro Architects has already worked with Kapoor on a block of six studios in Farmers Road in Southwark.