Clerkenwell Office

This Clerkenwell office refurbishment and extension improves a character Victorian warehouse building. The property now provides six workspaces on the upper floors and a furniture showroom on the ground and basement levels. The project involved navigating a successful planning appeal while engineering a four-storey upward extension on a remarkably small footprint.

Development Strategy

The building has been substantially rebuilt and enlarged with a three storey upwards extension at the rear. An additional fourth set-back rooftop storey is finished in zinc with large structural glass dormers. A new roof terrace above this level provides panoramic London views.

Internal areas are increased by nearly 50% from 7,600 sqft to 10,150 sqft. A lift, a new level entrance and a reconfigured stair are inserted to improve accessibility to all levels.

The project’s primary innovation lies in the blockwork core. To avoid invasive underpinning of the existing foundations under monolithic brick piers, we worked closely with the engineers to develop a new core designed to carry the primary loads of the four-storey extension while optimising the narrow floor plates for high-quality lettable area.
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The new floors, roof and external walls are of lightweight construction to enable the existing cast iron columns and masonry walls to carry the increased loading without modification.

Facade Design

The rear of the building faces onto Albemarle Way, a narrow medieval road. Here, articulated facade details are inspired by the recessed brick panels, decorative lintels and visual weight of adjacent Victorian buildings.

The narrow width of Albemarle Way dictates that the building is seen from a low angle, enhancing the effect of the articulated facade depth.

Sustainability

The emissions rate for all new build elements is 15 kgCO₂/m²/year which is a 34% improvement on the Building Regulations requirement. This gives a reduction of 3,000 kg/year of CO₂ emissions. In the retained parts, all sash windows were replaced with triple glazing to provide better u-values and airtightness.

Overheating analysis allowed the optimisation of the facade to provide good natural light without overheating or glare, both previously a problem due to large areas of south facing glass. An MVHR system reduces traffic noise and also improves indoor air quality by filtering NO₂ and particulates from the busy city road outside.

New zoned heating systems and low-energy LED lights are specified throughout. Showers and bike stores are provided to encourage cycling. At roof level, PV panels provide renewable energy.

Revealing the building fabric

The removal of accumulated materials from the last 150 years allows a new focus on the inherent beauty and original clarity of structure: a heavy mass of brick piers, iron columns and timber joists designed to bear great weight. Oversized sashes and clerestory windows wash newly revealed, time-worn surfaces with natural light.

Project Details

Project Architects:
Ben Ridley, Matt McKenna, Moa Wintzell

Featured:
The Building Centre
Architects Data File

Structural Engineer:
FORM Structural Design

Location:
Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M

Budget:
£3.5m

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