Leighton House Museum, London
Historical, Museum, Public, Urban
2022
Once home to Pre-Raphelite painter Lord Frederick Leighton, this opulent palace of art was built in 1865 and has endured several extensions in the many decades that followed. Today, the Grade II* listed museum has been painstakingly restored and enhanced – with the help of Cantifix glazing – to delight visitors with an extensive collection of art, an overhead Rotunda roof light, and plenty of vertical glazing that frames the outside world.
The Challenge
The Leighton House Museum in London’s redbrick exterior blends in with the grandeur of Kensington. Inside, however, is a treasure trove of art produced by Lord Frederick Leighton, a Pre-Raphelite and one of the most influential painters of the 19th century. For many years, Lord Leighton called this building home, but it would have been quite unrecognisable to him ten years ago owing to the many unsympathetic extensions and alterations that have taken place over the last century.
The objective agreed upon by its owners, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and architects BDP, was to sympathetically restore the house to its former glory whilst also enhancing the experience of the visitor. This restoration and enhancement was done with the assistance of Cantifix. Our glazing specialists would create bespoke solutions to brighten the space and provide a Rotunda skylight as a captivating focal point within the design.
Working on a listed building can often present certain unexpected challenges, but we were more than prepared to meet them whenever they arose.
The Vision
BDP, in their words, wanted to “selectively remove, reinvent and extend the less significant areas to celebrate and safeguard the original house”. In doing so, they would achieve the project’s transformative motto “Hidden Gem to National Treasure”.
One of the highlights of this project would be the restoration of Leighton’s Winter Studio, in which he created several of his most famous artworks. The process revealed beautiful original features and allowed the architects to create a café below. More than simply an opportunity to sit down and have a coffee, the addition of Cantifix glazing in the café connects the inside space with the outside gardens which have also been thoughtfully designed.
Also a key focal point on the blueprints is a beautiful renovated Rotunda staircase and lift with a Cantifix skylight overhead, bathing the vertical transition point in natural light for enhanced accessibility and enjoyment.
But there would be more to this project than simply its visual improvements – of which there are many. To secure it for the future, it needs to be energy efficient, something that simply wasn’t possible when it was originally built in the 19th century. Technology has come a long way since then, allowing Cantifix to carefully replace outdated wired glass with ultra-thin thermal glazing.
The Glass
The Rotunda-style skylight, perhaps the most striking glazed feature of the house, was created from eight bespoke panels that surround a central artificial light. The swirling staircase below is illuminated through these panels in daylight, but also enjoys illumination in the evening thanks to the bright, modern, LED light. A special piece of art was commissioned to sit up the side of the stairs: Oneness, an 11-metre high mural by Iranian artist Shahrzad Ghaffar.
While this skylight is certainly a captivating talking point, our glazing greets visitors at the elegant entrance too. Grand Schüco International KG doors with Cantifix’s own PureGlaze technology set the tone for the house and help to thermally regulate the space.
These contemporary glass solutions support safety, performance, and longevity, while remaining almost invisible in their presence. Fire-rated glass screens and Lunax fire doors were integrated to provide essential compartmentation and life-safety protection, designed with slim sightlines that allow light and views to flow uninterrupted through the museum. The Pureglaze frameless doors create subtle transitions between galleries, preserving openness while meeting modern access and durability requirements.
Throughout the house, our glazing has been deployed to magnificent effect – utilising modern technologies such as low-emissivity coatings – whilst retaining the special character of this site.
The Results
Museums everywhere have a target for annual visitor numbers. After the completion of this project, Leighton House Museum in London met its target in less than six months. The intervention by BDP and the assistance provided by Cantifix celebrates Victorian architecture and enhances it through the sympathetic addition of modern innovation, thermal technologies and timeless style.
Recognising the efforts of all those involved, this project came top of the Cultural Project category at the prestigious AJ Architecture Awards 2023, something that highlights its “contributions to design quality, sustainability, and its transformative impact on this historic gem.” It also went on to win the RIBA London Award in 2024.
Project: Leighton House Museum, London
Architect: Building Design Partnership
Collabs: Quinn London Ltd, Schueco
