A pair of period properties near Buckingham Palace in London are to be merged into one to form the newly extended home of the Delfina Foundation, an independent, non-profit foundation dedicated to facilitating artistic exchange and developing creative practice through residencies, partnerships and public programming. The Foundation launched an invited design competition for the project which has recently been won by London-based Studio Octopi and Cairo-based Shahira Fahmy Architects.

The winning concept ‘proposes to retain the domesticity of the two houses, exploring the notion of the hearth in a home’. As such, the original craftsmanship of the period home next to the Foundation’s current base will be uncovered and sensitively brought to life, with exhibition space and artist workspaces supported by eight bedrooms.

Founder, Delfina Entrecanales CBE: “It was essential that our ethos of creative exchange was also embedded in the architectural competition. The harmonious response by Studio Octopi, in collaboration with Shahira Fahmy Architects, reflected our philosophy best by creating spaces that are designed in dialogue with each other. We are pleased to have appointed Studio Octopi to work with us to create more residencies for international artists, curators and writers in the heart of London.”