Apartment Building, Shoreditch

The client wanted to create a series of highly individual abstract loft-type apartments within the fabric of an existing building. The apartment building was to have a strong sense of identity, but each apartment needed to feel unique and special.

The concept is one of an entirely new building set above the existing elevations. The existing facade has been left undisturbed, but a new presence floats over the top. There is no visible linkage to either front or rear facade between the old and the new proposal. The facade of the new block has been recessed behind that of both the facades below and also the adjoining building.

The building is designed to have the simplicity of the facade treatment juxtaposed against volumetric and spatial complexity internally. Sparse orthogonal plans are played off against complexity in section to create a series of unique spaces. Every space within the building will have a very specific identity because of the variation in section.

A vertical maze of interweaving staircases seen from below resolves into rational escape routes when approached from the upper floors. There is one window in the monolithic facade to the north giving clean views through to the city beyond. When you enter the stairwell at any point, the location of this window will facilitate orientation within the building. The lift also exits onto this link, and the link crosses adjacent to the other key vertical intervention, which is a lightwell to the south.

This lightwell is large and deep to enable every floor to have opening lights and natural ventilation. Stepped terraces adjacent this void give external rooms. Every primary space in the building is naturally lit. The large indents behind the front and rear facades of the existing building create private external rooms, and give the existing parapets independent articulation from the street.

The client wanted to create a series of highly individual abstract loft-type apartments within the fabric of an existing building. The apartment building was to have a strong sense of identity, but each apartment needed to feel unique and special.

The concept is one of an entirely new building set above the existing elevations. The existing facade has been left undisturbed, but a new presence floats over the top. There is no visible linkage to either front or rear facade between the old and the new proposal. The facade of the new block has been recessed behind that of both the facades below and also the adjoining building.

The building is designed to have the simplicity of the facade treatment juxtaposed against volumetric and spatial complexity internally. Sparse orthogonal plans are played off against complexity in section to create a series of unique spaces. Every space within the building will have a very specific identity because of the variation in section.

A vertical maze of interweaving staircases seen from below resolves into rational escape routes when approached from the upper floors. There is one window in the monolithic facade to the north giving clean views through to the city beyond. When you enter the stairwell at any point, the location of this window will facilitate orientation within the building. The lift also exits onto this link, and the link crosses adjacent to the other key vertical intervention, which is a lightwell to the south.

This lightwell is large and deep to enable every floor to have opening lights and natural ventilation. Stepped terraces adjacent this void give external rooms. Every primary space in the building is naturally lit. The large indents behind the front and rear facades of the existing building create private external rooms, and give the existing parapets independent articulation from the street.