Soho Heritage Audit → Publica

“The contrast of old and new, the accumulated concentration of the most significant elements of the various periods gone by, even if they are only fragmentary reminders of them, will in time produce a landscape whose depth no one period can equal.”

—Kevin Lynch,
What Time is this Place?

Soho has a unique visual landscape, thanks to the combination of neon signs, eighteenth century pubs, small and independent businesses, ghost signage and remnants of its industrial past. To record the visual assets that define Soho’s renowned character, Publica and urban design professor Bahar Durmaz-Drinkwater undertook a street heritage audit for The Soho Neighbourhood Forum, with financial support from the neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.

Since the project’s inception in September 2024, the locations and historic details of almost 700 heritage assets have been catalogued. The results of the audit are now complete and freely accessible to the public through an online interactive map, available on the Soho Neighbourhood Forum’s website. Additionally, a database of intangible heritage assets, compiled using records from The London Archives, is available to view online.

View online interactive map

The map and database aim to raise the appreciation of Soho’s distinct identity, amidst growing concerns over the loss of heritage assets as the area’s visual landscape evolves. The resources will assist Westminster City Council in future planning decisions, support local business owners as a rich source of inspiration and historical data to encourage the reuse, refurbishment, and celebration of heritage assets, and offer valuable insight to developers looking to better understand the history of potential development sites.

With the collective knowledge of the Soho community, the audit will help ensure that the historic built fabric of Soho can be celebrated for years to come.

The relational databases organises complex information into tables — subtypes and assets — that link to eachother.

The design identity of the map is rooted in the visual language of Soho. It seeks to reflect both the older and more contemporary parts of Soho’s rich heritage. The colour palette takes inspiration from the brightly coloured lights of Soho’s nightlife, paying homage to the queer clubs, sex shops and casinos that form an integral part of the area’s cultural history. The typography references remaining found signage such as shop signs from the late eighteenth century, pub signage from the 1970s and ghost signs.

Close up of a neon sign reading "EGAS", with casino style fruit symbols below.

Neon sign on a building reading "RAYMOND REVUEBAR", with an illuminated image of a dancing woman.

A modern street sign underneath historic letter tiles of the street name with the letters b and k missing from Berwick Street.

The name and founding date of a private members club.

Residents, visitors, schools and businesses in the area were brought together by the audit to share their invaluable perspectives on what makes Soho’s heritage so significant.