FOCUS 55
Project
Six St Andrew Street, London
Left and far left Nine floors of ofices are available as managed workspaces
BARR GAZETAS’S deep retrofit of a 1999 office building in Holborn has transformed the workspace, with the provision of new communal amenities along with a rooftop extension and terrace.
Designed for GPE, the 4,500m2 project
stripped the building back to its concrete structure, introducing new MEP, lighting and sprinklers, and providing a full fit-out of nine floors of offices, which are available as managed workspaces.
Previously, the building had a tiny reception area. Drawing on its experience designing co-working spaces, Barr Gazetas instead provided an extensive shared lounge and large meeting room at ground-floor level, with cycle storage, showers and wellness studio at basement level. Te rooftop extension includes a kitchen to enable its use for events.
Te practice drew on aspects of the local context to inform the design, including the
Project Hilson Moran, London
GENSLER’S CONCEPT for interdisciplinary engineers Hilson Moran’s new office was for a ‘living lab’ – a workplace designed to showcase the firm’s work, with a strong emphasis on biophilia.
Located within the Hay’s Galleria development at London Bridge, the project accommodates up to 90 staff. Gensler aimed to blend ‘timeless charm with modern sophistication’, combining exposed brick interiors that hint at the former wharf’s heritage with brushed aluminium, black steel, and warm timber flooring.
According to interior designer and associate Marco Gastoldi, the design blurs the boundaries between nature and technology by ensuring that ‘the presence of nature is tangible’ throughout, creating a ‘welcoming and invigorating’ environment. Tis is embodied in bespoke desking – created with Rawlight – that integrates planters. Views of planting are emphasised throughout, as well as the prime views over the Tames. Tere is further abundant planting in the Oasis room, which is designed as a serene, screen-free retreat, with lounge seating, abundant natural light and a rippling reflective ceiling. Along with the café and library, the Oasis serves as one of three ‘destination’ spaces at the ends of the floorplate.
Tere is an emphasis on flexibility of use, with the café overlooking the Tames conceived as the heart of the workplace and the location for various activities and client events. Here, materials include dark granite and Richlite durable paper surfaces. Boardrooms are adaptable in size courtesy of movable walls. Te library, designed with high pile carpet and
Wren church of St Andrew opposite and 14th-century armourer John Tavie, who was associated with the area. Tese narratives informed the materiality and palette, giving the workplaces a warmth far removed from a more basic serviced office offer. ‘It was a challenge to design in enough character to woo people into something essentially speculative,’ says project director Tom Lacey.
barrgazetas.com
dark green walls, provides a space for smaller meetings and focused work. Te entrance includes an interactive exhibition area. Te project achieved BREEAM Excellent certification. Embodied carbon was reduced through the use of locally sourced, UK-manufactured materials and also recycled and reused materials such as cork flooring and reclaimed timber. Ceilings are exposed to showcase optimised cabling routes and energy-efficient lighting systems that cut energy consumption.
gensler.com
Below The exposed brick interiors hint at the former wharf’s heritage
PHOTO: HILSON MORAN
PHOTOS: TIM SOAR
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