Townscape consultancy to unlock potential

Built in the 1980s, this modernist building is nestled between two conservation areas – the Barbican to the east and Smithfield to the west – and surrounded by a host of listed buildings, including Seddon House and West Smithfield Church. The client wished to refurbish and extend the building without significantly impacting its sensitive surroundings.

Working closely with lead designer Fletcher Priest Architects, we provided heritage consultancy on external works, helping to ensure that the design sensitively responded to the local townscape and
context.

The building now boasts 140,000 sq ft of workspace and a revived front elevation. Façade upgrades include woven concrete fins that pay homage to the iconic brutalist architecture of the adjacent Barbican Estate.

Revealing patterns of history

Our extensive research uncovered that the office was built on the site of a 1950s textile workshop. This knowledge guided design, with a woven pattern utilised throughout to honour the site's industrial past.

Once a hotspot for antisocial behaviour, a passage running alongside the building has been reinvigorated. Blue woven titles mirror the façade’s concrete design, referencing the site's historic past and Victorian brickwork. The handmade tiles by artist Alexis Teplin brighten the once dark passageway, now a popular shortcut between Aldersgate Street and Cloth Street.