Royal Mint Court, EC1 London, UK

Due to the scale of the site, the starting point was a strategic review of the permeability of the development which, once resolved, guided the composition of the individual buildings and surrounding public spaces. The masterplan for the project sought to strike a careful balance that improved accessibility whilst preserving the identity and boundary of the Royal Mint Court Estate. Achieving this, Sheppard Robson’s design mapped two core routes through the site; these run north-to-south and from east-to-west, with the latter framing views out on to the Tower of London whilst creating vistas into the heart of the development.

The new architectural additions are created to be both distinctly modern and to celebrate the site’s heritage assets. The major new element is the complete remodelling of Murray and Dexter House to create high-quality, flexible workplace. The palette of materials used on the new elements are purposely simple to give a sense of cohesion through-out the site. Taking its cues from the rear elevation of the Johnson Smirke Building, the materials used on Murray and Dexter House include Portland Stone and dark brick, adding a sense of permanence and quality that is prevalent throughout the development.