An iconic early 1960’s office block is on an underdeveloped – by today’s standards – site, and is threatened with demolition. This project seeks to make a proposal for the development of the undeveloped half of the site, while retaining the Modernist building. The existing building is to be restored with removal of all internal walls, re-glazing to conservation standard, new heating and services.
A new tower 11.5 storeys high provides office accommodation, while leaving an open ground floor plaza to provide a landscaped area extended from the pavement, containing a central void looking down to the original basement courtyard walls. This ground floor covered plaza contains the main staircase and entrance points to the building – two of the staircases are external up to first floor / mezzanine level.
The form of the new tower uses a solid base, which incorporates these staircases and external terraces, extending up to second floor level. Above that, a glass curtain is suspended from tapered-edge floor slabs, with a deep-fin sun screen to the south elevation.
