245 Hammersmith Road, W6 London, UK
Sheppard Robson’s new £115m building at 245 Hammersmith Road (formerly Bechtel House) creates a prominent architectural addition and sequence of new public spaces in the area’s Business Improvement District (BID).
The scheme provides 22,500m2 of flexible office space and 970m2 of retail space. Rather than being a single structure like the existing Bechtel House on the site, Sheppard Robson’s design reduces the mass of the development by forming the building from two parallel wings that are connected by a central core, which houses circulation space and services.
The reconfiguration of the development’s plan allows the new design to be stepped back from Hammersmith Road, creating the opportunity for a new landscaped space at the front of the development that will be an inviting entrance to the project. This newly recreated plaza leads through to a landscaped podium garden, with a funicular lift mediating the 8m change of level between the two external spaces.
This office space has been designed to accommodate one to 29 tenants, with the floor plates and servicing providing the maximum level of flexibility. Further connecting the office spaces and the development as a whole to the local community, the project includes a business lounge at ground level and a café that will also be open to the public.
The external envelope of the development is characterised by the use of angled anodised aluminium window surrounds, which have been specified to create a dialogue with the architectural language of the adjacent Conservation Area where terracotta brick is commonplace. The angled aluminium panels in the façades are tailored to their orientation, minimising solar gain and providing dynamic elevations which respond to the changing levels of light during the day.
The arrival point of the reception is marked by an artwork installation that is integrated within the fabric of the building. Designed by Sheppard Robson architect and artist Patricia de Isidoro, the installation, titled Three thousand Threads, is an homage to all the hands involved in the crafting of the building. The work features golden threads suspended between the recessed walls of the reception as a three-dimensional tapestry, welcoming viewers into the space and inviting them to reflect on the making of the building.
- Client
-
- Legal & General Investment Management Ltd / Mitsubishi Estate Co
- Size
- 32,592 m2
- Completion
- 2019
- Awards
-
- British Council for Offices - Highly commended
- Tags
Understanding
We thought very carefully about rooting the development within its civic setting and how we could bring an underused public space back to life.
Rather than being a single structure like the existing Bechtel House on the site, Sheppard Robson’s design reduces the mass of the development by forming the building from two parallel wings that are connected by a central core, creating opportunities for vibrant green and civic spaces to be integrated throughout.
Design Process
An understanding of how to use public space to give the project a civic quality was developed in conjunction with designing a building that was efficient and visually assertive.
The external form of the building is characterised by the use of angled anodised aluminium window surrounds, which have been specified to create a dialogue with the architectural language of the adjacent Conservation Area where terracotta brick is commonplace.The angled aluminium panels in the façades are tailored to their orientation, minimising solar gain and providing dynamic elevations which respond to the changing levels of light during the day.
Successes
The interior concepts by ID:SR have been designed with the development’s civic setting in mind. The ground floor functions as an extension of the public piazza, evoking a generous civic hall, while featuring a variety of more intimate settings to promote collaborative working. The interior draws on the English tradition of Arts and Crafts fused with industrial heritage, reflecting the history of the Hammersmith neighbourhood. The use of raw materials—as featured in the open-grid metal ceilings and lighting details—melds with hand-crafted furniture to create an atmosphere that is at once familial and industrial.
Images
Drawings
