Tasked by the client to bring their 19th century house up to the standards expected in the 21stCentury. As Project Architects, we ensured that it met the owner’s needs and aspirations for a welcoming family home, whilst keeping the external appearance in harmony with the local conservation area.
Externally, all existing fenestration was sympathetically replaced with conservation style windows and French doors that met modern thermal performance requirements. Internally, a reconfiguration of the stairs and the introduction of a lift enabled the client to remain in the house for many years to come. All existing floors were replaced and a raised mansard roof improved upon the poor head height on the fourth floor.
Client
Private
Contractor
Walter Lilly
Appointed by main Contractor BW, smok were Lead Consultant for this four phase intensive project for IG Group’s headquarter building in the square mile.
Collaborating with the Clients’ design Architects, smok delivered the construction design as a series of phases to meet a rigorous and inflexible timetable of ‘decanting’ as the occupied spaces were developed, in order to maintain the Clients’ operation throughout the duration of the works.
Client
IG Group
Contractor
BW
Principal Architects
Sheppard Robson
As lead Consultant for the Contractor, smok collaborated with BW to deliver a new London base for online retailer Etsy.
Taking the Clients’ concept design, we developed the detailed design and the construction information to complete the vibrant and energetic spaces.
Working closely with BW and the Client team, the project materials and details were re-imagined to meet their challenging budget and ‘contemporary office space’ aspirations, the finished article was tailored to their very specific requirements and served as a fitting canvas for Etsy to exhibit and finish the space with their Clients’ products.
Client
Etsy
Contractor
BW
Principal Architects
Gensler
M&E Consultant
Cundall
This project comprised the fit out of some offices at the second floor of the headquarters of a British multinational financial service company in the City of London.
The brief was to design a welcome and comfortable environment, in which work and socialization could co-exist. The challenge was to complete the works in a short period, in a busy environment.
As a result, an open plan office layout was proposed, in tune with the nature of the iconic building, with an open plan accessible kitchenette and a new meeting room with glass walls. A large high bench table, touchdown/drop in, was introduced to support non-formal meetings within the office, together with soft meeting booths for more one to one discussions.
Client
Private
Contractor
BW
An exclusive restaurant and entertaining space for the Debenture holders attending the prestigious tennis tournament, The Champions’ Room was completed in April 2016.
Appointed by Overbury, we assisted in the delivery of this project and coordinated the more complicated aspects such as the ceiling. This was made up of a number of layers to allow for mechanical and electrical service penetration but also had to incorporate acoustic properties to assist with reverberation.
Working alongside SHH to achieve their vision for this space at AELTC, Overbury had a tight programme in order to complete the project. We were able to facilitate this process by resolving the details of intricate joinery and specific catering accessories including an oyster counter and a moveable cheese trolley with a marble top.
Client
AELTC
Client/Contractor
Overbury
Principal Architect
SHH
Catering Consultant
Alan Brockington Catering Design
The proposed refurbishment to the 15-year-old Millennium Building at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, home of The Championships, Wimbledon, was our first foray into sporting facilities and involved the modernisation and redesigning of the facilities for players and the media.
The design challenges largely focused on providing an enlarged and improved Players’ Lounge, new warm-up and massage spaces, as well as cutting edge ice baths. Careful consideration was also applied to the design of the medical and physiotherapy quarters and a series of small interview rooms in which the media interview the players.
Working with a neutral colour palette to provide a contrast to the purple and green Wimbledon branding, the end result is a series of serene, uncomplicated spaces – a perfect backdrop to the busy and high-pressure environment that accompanies The Championships.
Working with the main contractor to deliver the design and construction phases of the project, the key challenges included working to an accelerated programme to finish in time for The Championships 2015, whilst adhering to very specific budgetary and aesthetic requirements requiring close liaison with the client throughout the design and delivery process.
The resulting finished scheme is a high quality product that was delivered on time and on budget and we are very proud of the outcome.
Client
AELTC
Contractor
Overbury
M&E Consultant
ME Engineers
The University of Liverpool opened their London campus building at 33 Finsbury Square in September 2014, providing 75,000 Sqft of accommodation for the university to establish their presence in the London educational market.
The completed building hosts seminar rooms, PC suites, a lecture theatre, a library, an architects studio, a café with full catering facilities, executive teaching suites and a boardroom; all supported by ancillary academic offices and student services facilities.
The sophisticated, practical, use of materials and colour delivers the gravitas of a corporate headquarters, underpinning the client’s desire to promote their new facilities as a centre of excellence for Post graduate and Professional education in the city.
As our first major educational appointment, the scheme is one we are very proud of, as we believe it epitomises our philosophy of providing our clients with buildings that are well designed, well constructed and fairly priced.
Client
University of Liverpool
Contractor
Overbury
Quantity Surveyor
Currie & Brown
Structural Engineer
Pringuer-James
Mechanical and Electrical Consultant
Chapman BDSP
The proposed refurbishment of this 21,000 sqft Grade I listed mansion, located on the Outer Circle Road next to Regents Park, included the complete overhaul of the existing accommodation and finishes to deliver a seven bedroom house earmarked as ‘Britain’s most expensive terraced home’.
The final scheme included a new gym, refurbished indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam, catering kitchen, family kitchen, new formal dining rooms, a suite of reception spaces and nine bathrooms. This was all supported by state of the art Building Services installations including iPad operated lighting, AV and heating/cooling systems.
smok was originally appointed to coordinate the contractor’s CPD packages. As the construction process developed we were appointed to complete the full design and monitor construction on site.
The completed scheme exhibits a wide palette of luxurious materials, is reflective of the clients’ very personal tastes, and required innovative detailing to meet the very specific briefing.
The key challenge with this project was the numerous ‘bespoke’ solutions required. Automated moveable walls and cabinets, illuminated bathroom and shower walls, CNC sculpted stone walls all required innovative lateral thinking to provide robust buildable solutions that delivered on design and quality.
Client
Private Client
Project Managers
Arcadis EC Harris
Contractor
Walter Lilly & Co
Mechanical & Electrical Consultants
Edward Pearce LLP
Interior Decorations
DEPA
Shell and core project that included the introduction of a new storey level, new rooftop plant spaces, infilling of existing internal lightwells and creation of new lift core to provide 19,000 Sqft of additional B1 Office space within the existing building footprint,
The aesthetic for the new extension draws influence from the existing building and crowns the principle Finsbury Square façade, resolving the somewhat ‘squat’ appearance of the original building and creating a significant presence on the square.
The choice of cladding materials ensures the new extension contrasts with the original but is also sympathetic to it. External materials include reconstituted stone, self-coloured renders and ‘Bronze’ cladding.
Client/Contractor
Meritcape
Structural Engineer
Packman Lucas
Mechanical & Electrical Consultants
ENGDesign Consulting Engineers
