A converted art school once attended by Vincent van Gogh is on the market for £3 million.
When current owners Tobias Hestler, 52, and his partner, Alexander Wegner, 54, bought the Grade II* listed Studio One, one of six properties in St Oswald’s Place, formerly The Lambeth School of Art, in 2017, they were inspired by its previous incarnation in the redecoration.
“The original Victorian building is steeped in character and the restoration of the interiors was done with great care to maintain most of the architecture and pay homage to its history,” says Hestler.
“We wanted to maintain the history and feel of the school. For example, we removed the modern radiators and put in iron cast radiators that fit the period.”
Its history is certainly illustrious. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone in 1860.
Vincent van Gogh is thought to have attended art classes here when he lived in London and Henry Doulton, of Royal Doulton fame, was a mentor to many of its pottery students.
Renowned architect Tony Fretton converted the building in the 1980s from a school into the properties that you see today.
Wegner is the former editor of a leading interiors magazine and now a stylist on furniture and accessories shoots, meaning he was well placed to undertake the renovation of a building so steeped in art history.
“The prior owners, who had lived here for nearly 40 years, were clearly avid collectors, and although they had done a lot to the property, it had naturally become dated over time,” says Hestler.
“We set about re-designing it into the home of our dreams, with Alexander’s expert eye, of course. I hope the result shows the craft and skill he has, particularly his eye for colour, interior decoration and materials.”
Studio One occupies two floors of a wing of the old school building and is approached via a secluded cobbled courtyard, set back from St Oswald’s Place, but it’s the interiors that are especially striking.
Highlights include a stunning, bespoke, hand-made kitchen, which has underfloor heating, a pantry, larder and ‘wine cave’ with storage of up to 70 bottles.
The living/dining room, where Hestler says they spend most of their time, has an original fireplace and characterful windows. “We even put a desk in there so we can enjoy the beautiful space with its high ceiling and lateral space, making it a lovely place to work from home.”
Hestler and Wegner’s renovation included changing the upstairs layout so that the original atelier became the principal bedroom. This boasts the same 14-foot ceilings as the reception room, and has a dressing room and ensuite bathroom.
Hestler says this is his favourite space, describing it as “a sanctuary with a working fireplace, painted in a calming French Grey, which overlooks the large garden”. Upstairs are two further bedrooms with bespoke built-in wardrobes and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.
Studio One is packed with stunning furniture and decorative pieces, a testament to Wegner’s creativity.
These include a wooden table that came from a cloister and three wood-carved statues, some of which belonged to the church next door. “We love art and handicrafts. We enjoy beautiful things around us, and many craftspeople went to the Lambeth School of Arts, such as trained potters, carpenters, painters.”
The home also includes the original floors which are mostly the school’s classroom floors. “Four years ago, our doorbell rang, and two elderly ladies were outside the door, profusely apologising that they rang the bell and disturbed us. They said they were living now in the countryside, but both went to school in our building,” recalls Hestler.
“We invited them inside and they explained to us how the rooms looked when they were still school rooms. They told us that the floors were original — they even remembered some of the brass that covered a hole in the floorboard — and also the rooms looked still very much the same. They were both very happy when they left as it brought back many memories and they were happy to see that we had retained much of the history of the place.”
Studio One, which also boasts a communal garden, is located in Vauxhall, near the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and moments from the River Thames and Houses of Parliament.
“The central location was a draw. It is a quiet haven in the middle of London,” adds Hestler.
Joe Le Beau from Harris Le Beau, the agency Studio One is listed with, says the property “awaits a discerning buyer”.“This elegant residence combines classic architecture with modern comforts, offering a unique blend of luxury and sophistication,” he said.
“Tobias and Alexander are collectors of art and in a rare opportunity some of this art is available to purchase by separate negotiation.”
