Pitzhanger Manor
Film Set

For one of my projects at the FDI at Pinewood Studios, I worked with Ray and Terry on creating a film set based on Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing. I went to the location to research various details, such as the current front door make-up, wall stonework details and interior layout. One important detail I wanted to capture was where the staircase started and which way it ran. Sadly that part of the house was closed at the time so I was unable to view it. Thankfully I was able to do some online research looking at images and videos of that section of the house.

For a building with such a unique layout – the basement being halfway below ground and halfway above ground – creating the maquette helped me understand better how the staircase worked and then how the rest of the floor layouts were arranged. Ray and I sat for hours working this one out. We studied plans and elevations going back to the 1800s, all the way through to the modern day and even watched video tours of the house on youtube. After much debate and furrowed brows, we got there in the end!

After finishing at FDI, I took this project away and continued with detailed studies of the front door, stonework and finally created a storyboard for a film sequence on the set. I hope you enjoy the pictures and my drawings from this piece of work.