Genealogy society’s new Islington home recognised at architecture awards

The Society runs the largest specialist genealogy library outside of America. Photograph: Guarnieri Architects / Quintin Lake

The new home of the Society of Genealogists in Islington has earned awards recognition from respected industry magazine The Architects’ Journal (AJ).

The Society announced back in 2022 that it was moving out of its old Clerkenwell headquarters, where people had been studying family histories since 1985.

Advances in digitisation meant a downsize was needed, and following a temporary relocation, the Society eventually settled on a permanent space on Wharf Road, next to Regent’s Canal.

But the new spot was not yet kitted out for the largest specialist genealogy library outside of North America, as well as for the events put on by the Society.

The team brought in London-based Guarnieri Architects to retrofit the place, with a keen eye on sustainability.

The project, which was completed late last year, was named on a five-strong shortlist for this month’s AJ Retrofit and Reuse Awards 2024, in a category for fit-outs costing up to £2 million.

People can use the space to research their family history. Photograph: Guarnieri Architects / Quintin Lake

While the design didn’t take home the ultimate prize, Marco Guarnieri, founder of Guarnieri Architects, was nevertheless proud of making it to the final in a highly competitive field.

He told the Islington Citizen: “During our consultation with members and staff of the Society of Genealogists, it became clear that the space had to be flexible enough to be used as a library and at the same time host in-person events.

“We recycled parts of the previous fit-out, such as the floor and the lighting, and these were re-laid.

“We also refurbished some of the furniture and purchased remanufactured ones.

“In this way, we reduced the carbon footprint of the project, making the end result very sustainable.”

The highlight of the new look is a mammoth moving bookshelf in the middle of the space – designed to house the thousands of books and records that make up the Society’s specialist library.

Guarnieri added: “The long bookshelf is the centrepiece of the project, and it makes the books the protagonists.

“It also separates the formal library space from the more informal lounge space.”

The Society itself is pleased with its new home, calling it a “fantastic, friendly space for exploring your family history”.

To find out more about the Society of Genealogists, visit sog.org.uk.