DESIGN & INTERIORS
BREAKING THE GLASS BOX: THE MAKEOVER OF 175 HIGH HOLBORN
We sat down with Tsubi Choy, Head of Property Development at Canvas, to discuss the vision, challenges, and innovations behind the company’s latest transformation.
Canvas Offices is known for redefining the flexible workspace experience with a design philosophy rooted in creating environments that feel like a ‘home from home’. At the heart of their latest transformation, 175 High Holborn stands as a bold departure from tradition, an ambitious refurbishment of a 1980s glass-fronted office building into a vibrant, contemporary workplace. We find out what Tsubi Choy, Head of Property Development at Canvas, had to say about the project.
Q
: What was your initial vision for 175 High Holborn and how did that evolve as
the project developed? Taking on a 1980s glass box was a first for us. We initially struggled to understand how we could translate our core design value, ‘home from home’, into a purpose-built office building. We worked with Daytrip Studios again for the concept design, after the success of our Holborn Station building.
Daytrip’s concept dropped a hint of 1980s corporate into mid-century modernism,
but the primary goal was for all design elements to complement the concrete
structure which had been hidden behind plasterboard since the building’s inception.
We allowed ourselves a bit
more creative freedom with the concept this time around, working
Q 22 | TOMORROW’S FM
with it but adapting elements to feel a bit more ‘Canvas’ - swapping an earthy yellow bathroom concept for a zingy elderflower green for example.
Q
: Can you walk us through the key challenges you faced when converting this building into modern,
flexible office space? There were advantages of a purpose-built office building, but the floorplates had been designed for leasing floor by floor – large open spaces which doesn’t suit our operating model, or the flexibility which is key to our offering.
One challenge of partitioning within a glass structure is the partition detail where a wall meets the glass. We didn’t want to compromise space by designing to the window mullions, or compromise natural light by running partitions in front of windows. We worked on an architectural detail to mitigate these issues, and it was well worth it!
Q
: How did you balance preserving the character of the building with introducing the functionality today’s
business tenants expect? Part of the building’s character is the view from it. We put the primary communal breakout on level 5 and with dual aspect views, so that no matter where your office is located, you can enjoy the view of The British Museum and The London Eye. It means you have a prime space to host events, host meetings, generally make a good impression on your clients.
"We initially struggled to understand how we could translate our core design value, ‘home from home’, into a purpose- built office building.
: What role did sustainability and energy efficiency play in your
design and development decisions? This development is registered on the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method Establishment (BREEAM) scheme, so sustainability and
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