A multi-story red brick building with arched entrance, large windows, and small balconies, with people walking on the sidewalk and cars parked along the street under a clear blue sky.

folding history into interiors

Entry Date
11 March 2026

Imagery
San Stae (Sketches, CGIs)
Village Design (Marketing CGIs)

San Stae has been appointed by Hatchbury to design the interiors and amenity spaces for The Paper Yard, a 77-apartment development in Birmingham’s historic Gun Quarter - an area once central to rifle production during the American Civil War, where traces of that industrial past still shape the character of the neighbourhood.

For a studio that often works with heritage buildings, the project offered a special opportunity to shape a residential scheme from the ground up, including a full suite of shared amenity spaces. For us, the guiding questions were how a new building might feel rooted in its surroundings and how contemporary living could emerge from the layered histories of the place.

As with all our projects, we began by looking closely at the story of the site itself. This large parcel of land has lived several lives, once home to The People’s Hall of Science, an imposing neoclassical building created for lectures, learning and public assembly. In time it became The People’s Hall Works, a paper and box factory, and later a warehouse. Each chapter left traces, and the interiors respond to these histories through material, form and atmosphere.

Working closely with BPN Architects, we have developed a dialogue between exterior and interior spaces. The architecture takes cues from both the former People’s Hall and heritage streetscape in its strong arches, robust brickwork and crafted metal details. BPN’s perforated metalwork design in anodised bronze, inspired by delicate paper cut-outs, became a motif that continues inside the building. Bronze finishes thread through the apartments and amenity spaces, linking the interior palette to the language of the façade.

Within the shared spaces, materials quietly reference the area’s industrial heritage. Concrete-effect flooring grounds the interiors, while layered white wall finishes evoke the softness and tactility of paper. In the double-height entrance atrium, paper lanterns emphasise the vertical volume, creating a calm sense of arrival. Rust-toned sofas bring warmth to the residents’ lounge and co-working areas, balancing the cooler material palette.

Inside the apartments, warm timber style surfaces and bronze lighting create a tactile, balanced interior. Tiles echo the geometry of folded paper, adding rhythm and texture across kitchens and bathrooms.

With construction now underway, we look forward to seeing The Paper Yard gradually rise - a new chapter for this corner of the city, where history, material and design come together to create homes that feel both contemporary and deeply connected to their surroundings.

Old, weathered four-story building on a cobblestone street, with peeling paint and multiple arched and rectangular windows, in black and white.
Architectural blueprints of a historical building showing elevation views to Principle Street and Loveday Street, with detailed windows, doors, and stonework.
Display of various tile samples including ceramic, wood, and textured options arranged on a white grid with a color chip and a white price tag.
Interior view of a building with wooden framing, a glass partition, a burnt orange sofa, a round glass table, potted plants, and a staircase with wooden steps.
Hotel lobby with beige carpet, orange and white seating, white chairs, black coffee tables, potted plants, decorative wall panels, and glass doors leading to an outdoor area.
Interior view of a cozy room with orange armchairs, a small woven rug, wooden chairs, a bar-style counter with stools, beige walls, wall-mounted lights, and a green plant in the corner.
Yoga studio with beige mats and props on light wood flooring, potted plant, wall-mounted TV, white curtains, adjacent room visible through doorway.
A landscaped outdoor courtyard with brick buildings, blooming trees, shrubs, and lavender plants. There are a few people sitting at a table, and potted plants near the buildings. The sky is partly cloudy.
3D floor plan of a modern apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining area, bathroom, and balcony.
A modern bedroom with a bed that has white pillows and bedding. There are dark wood side tables on either side with wall-mounted lights above. A framed artwork hangs above the bed's headboard. To the left, an open closet with a hanging rod holding white shirts and a shelf with rolled white linens.
Modern kitchen with lower and upper wooden cabinets, a built-in oven, a sink with a brass faucet, and black electrical outlets, against a white wall with a minimalist design.
Minimalist bathroom with a walk-in shower, white tiled walls, a small white sink with storage, mirror, and toilet, with neutral tones.
Construction site with a tall yellow crane, scattered construction materials, and partially built structures under a partly cloudy sky.
Cityscape with construction crane, tall buildings, and construction site fencing.