Twelve people, four buildings a year
Narthex began in 2009 in the gatehouse of a roofless priory hall. It is still small on purpose.
The forge at Ostrum Hall, where every hinge, latch and window bar is made.
Founded in a ruin
Ilse Varga set up the studio in the gatehouse of Ostrum Hall, which was then a roofless shell with a fig tree growing in the nave. The first job was the gatehouse itself. It took two years, and taught us most of what we still believe.
We take on four buildings a year. That is a deliberate limit. Every project has a founder on it from the first visit to the handover, and the same joiners, smiths and weavers we have worked with for years.
Historic buildings since 2009
People in the studio
Buildings a year, no more
Years at Ostrum Hall
The people
Architects, a historian, conservators and makers. Everyone here has worked on site, and most of us still do.
Ilse Varga
Founder, architect
Since 2009
Tomas Reed
Architect
Since 2012
Nell Ashby
Studio manager
Since 2013
Mara Quinn
Building historian
Since 2014
Owen Hale
Stone conservator
Since 2015
Ana Ruiz
Joiner
Since 2016
Priya Sen
Glass and paint conservator
Since 2017
Jonah Brook
Lighting designer
Since 2018
Felix Mott
Smith
Since 2019
Hester Lowe
Conservator
Since 2020
Sam Okafor
Site lead
Since 2021
Rafe Collins
Joiner
Since 2022
Made in the workshop
Most of what we fit is made a few hundred metres from the drawing board. It means we can make one of anything.
Iron
Hinges, latches, window bars and the odd staircase, forged at Ostrum Hall.
Wool
Hangings and upholstery woven on two looms in the old granary.
Oak
Joinery, floors and furniture cut from green oak and pegged by hand.