PROJECT REPORT: HERITAGE & ADAPTIVE REUSE 43
© Fiona Smallshaw
the building might have been if it had been designed now,” asserts MorleySmith associate director Etienne Sharp. Inside, the original glazed brick walls have been retained with spots popping up sporadically on the perimeter of the building. While the broken (and unsafe) bricks were replaced, some of the worn down and crumbled bricks were left untouched.
Although MoreySmith wanted to keep sections of the interior ‘raw,’ some areas needed “freshening up” and so required some modern insertions. “We tried to make sure there was a balance between contemporary and original elements,” asserts Bailey.
The architects grouped floors with each one having its own specific palette: the first and second floors are blue, the third and fourth floors green, and fifth and sixth floors a mustard yellow. The ground floor boasts an industrial feel, featuring corrugated metal and mosaic flooring to reference the original Victorian architecture of the space. The furniture throughout the levels is an “eclectic mix” of vintage and contemporary, and was about “blending the neutrals with occasional pops of colour.” The electricity, waterways, and industrial themes are emphasised by the building’s lighting. For example, as part of the waterways theme, rope lights designed by New York-based Lindsey Adelman feature in the ground floor ‘clubs space,’ subtly referencing the nearby canals. Encircling the
ADF FEBRUARY 2023
bar on the ground floor, a bespoke ring light has been installed to mimic “the flow of electricity,” referencing the building’s original function, while in the atrium, ‘Noctambule’ pendants have been installed. To “add warmth” to the upper levels, the architects incorporated timber into finishes. Where they could, MoreySmith used repurposed industrial fittings extracted from derelict or demolished buildings. The avoidance of using new materials wasn’t just about “creating a circular economy,” says Kieck, it was also to give “a bit more of a context” for building users.
Response With the project now complete, the new coworking space has reportedly received an “amazing response,” says Bailey. The historic, but neglected building has been brought back to life as a characterful and thoughtfully restored space for local businesses to engage with each other in a wellness-focused workspace. The resulting spaces are lively, creating a desirable location for businesses. Kieck enthuses:“It is a striking building that has such an amazing opportunity to flourish again.” Evidencing the success of this complex, sensitive project, the building has picked up a clutch of awards including Frame magazine’s Coworking Space of the Year 2022, as well as being shortlisted for Dezeen’s Large Workplace Award 2022 and the 2023 BCO Awards for Refurbished/ Recycled Workplace.g
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK NEW LIFE
The historic, but neglected building has been brought back to life as a characterful space for local businesses to engage with each other
© Fiona Smallshaw
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