Virgin HQ

Location: Fitzrovia, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2024
Size: 24,000 sqft
Client: Virgin Group
Hello London! Hello, new HQ! A design that speaks to wellbeing, inclusivity, and flexibility
Whitfield Studios, steeped in music history, has been transformed into Virgin Group’s vibrant new London headquarters by White Red Architects. This four-storey space blends Virgin’s innovative culture with the legacy of legendary artists like the Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Amy Winehouse.
The design preserves the character of the studio’s clay tile ceilings and brickwork, adding curving motifs inspired by vinyl records to honour its musical roots. Each floor is tailored to specific work styles, with social spaces for collaboration, serene areas for focus, and accessible features like height-adjustable desks and contrasting finishes.
Sustainability was at the core of the renovation, achieving an EPC A rating with sustainable energy, natural materials, and thoughtful reuse of furniture. The inclusion of outdoor spaces, skylights, and air-purifying plants creates a harmonious connection to nature.
Drawing inspiration from the site’s history, materials and colours were chosen that reflect the original design intent. Fluted timber panels were used throughout to create a cohesive design language. The new roof terrace offers a contemporary outdoor space that complements the building’s historical context.
Whitfield Studios is now a dynamic workplace that celebrates Virgin’s identity while honouring its storied past, fostering creativity, inclusivity, and wellbeing for its 400 team members.
Amnesty International
Location: Shoreditch, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2024
Size: 68,000 sqft
Client: Amnesty International UK
Respecting the Past, Designing the Future
The feasibility study for Amnesty International’s headquarters, located in the heart of Shoreditch, explored redevelopment opportunities within a vibrant cultural and historical context. The existing site, a former furniture factory, is situated in the South Shoreditch Conservation Area and has been earmarked for potential refurbishment and extension.
Three concepts were developed: an office-centric option and two hotel configurations. The office proposal envisioned a ground-plus-six-storey structure with rooftop amenities, blending heritage preservation with modern, adaptable workspaces. Key design elements included open layouts, rooftop terraces, and a focus on daylight and connectivity.
Our approach was sensitive to the site’s historic and urban context, preserving positive heritage aspects while introducing sustainable materials and enhanced massing. The project prioritised inclusivity and future adaptability, supporting Amnesty’s mission to create a dynamic and welcoming headquarters.
Film House
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2024
Size: 95,800 sqft
Client: Hines
How can you create a sanctuary for calm, among Soho’s vibrant energy.
Film House is a landmark building in the heart of London’s Soho. Working closely with various stakeholders will yield commercial space of the highest quality, in keeping with the building’s vibrant setting.
Having undergone prior reconfiguration and extension, our design merges the historical charm of the surrounding neighbourhood with the integration of a new ‘London Street’ connecting the Wardour Street entrance with the end-of-trip facilities accessed via Sheraton Street.
The design focus became about the use of natural materials, neutral colours and incorporation of biophilic design principles to create a sense of wellness.This is particularly evident in the new reception and shared amenity, crafted for the enjoyment of building users on the rooftop.
Drawing the street into the building and moving away from generic and expansive floorplates, Film House regains its social character.
“The Garage” Rathbone Street
Location: Fitzrovia, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2023
Size: 25,700 sqft
Client: Stevens Properties Ltd
7-9 Rathbone Street was an anonymous old warehouse in Fitzrovia dating back to the 1920s. The entire building was in need of refurbishment providing opportunities to create new roof terraces and improve the building’s image.
During the design process, an old photograph emerged which showed the original building as a garage. The words ‘J.A. Stephens’ over the door revealed a personal connection between the client and his great-grandfather. From this moment on, the project became about reestablishing this lost identity.
Historical features were reinstated, including the original ‘MAGNETOS’ sign and the ornate archway above the doorway. Historical photographs and adverts were used in the stairwell and office floors to remind people of the building’s past.
Fabric ducts made from recycled plastic provided an innovative and sustainable solution for the building’s services. This choice reduced embodied carbon while maintaining a high-quality, machine washable finish.
To connect the largest floorplate to the roof terrace above, a pop-up was built with hanging plants to draw the eye and invite people to explore.
“The Garage” is now back in Fitzrovia.
Bruton Place
Location: Mayfair, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2023
Size: 10,530 sqft
Client: Berkeley Estate Asset Management
The refurbishment of Bruton Place involved a comprehensive transformation of the entire building.
A pleated texture used throughout created a subtle identity and aided wayfinding.
The brief was to create a high-end look and feel. Westminster City Council’s requirement to retain the building’s original stone and brick palette inspired our choice of materials – bronze, oak and terrazzo.
The original structure spanned over an underground river making the beam spacing irregular. Working with the irregularity of the grid, an angled coffer design enhanced height. An indirect lighting solution concealed above an acoustic panel, lined in wool, gives the spaces a soft, inviting glow.
Introducing a portal at the entrance created a reception room where previously there was just a corridor. This is a trick borrowed from art galleries used to denote thresholds.
Consolidation of the roof plant gave way to a roof terrace, large enough to accommodate a concealed kitchenette for events. This space was finished with fluted metal panels that matched the interior timber panels.
Burleigh House
Location: The Strand, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2024
Size: 14,700 sqft
Client: Legal and General Investment Management
How can you work with a building’s layered history to bring forward something new?
Burleigh House dates back to the 1830s, with a rich history including a menagerie and exchange that once occupied the location.
The building has undergone several transformations, including a less-sensitive remodel in the 1990s, which removed much of its original charm with concrete structures and dropped tile ceilings.
Embracing this insensitive refurbishment, concrete ceiling coffers were exposed and lined with timber, incorporating indirect feature lighting to add warmth to these spaces. The ventilation strategy has been designed in such a way that integrates with the existing concrete structure.
Drawing inspiration from the site’s history, materials and colours were chosen that reflect the original design intent. Fluted timber panels were used throughout to create a cohesive design language. The new roof terrace offers a contemporary outdoor space that complements the building’s historical context.
The refurbishment of Burleigh House acknowledges the building’s rich history while integrating modern design elements, creating a connection between the building’s storied past and contemporary needs.
New River Yard
Location: Islington, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2023
Size: 70,000 sqft
Client: Highbridge Estates
How can you create connections between isolated office buildings?
The refurbishment of New River Yard involved transforming a 70,000 square-foot warehouse space into a cohesive and vibrant office campus, bringing together three separate buildings and creating a sense of connectivity and community.
Additional stories were added to the roof, alongside a new café space with views into a central courtyard in order to make better use of this space.
A key challenge of the project was addressing the different floor heights between the buildings. The core was reprogrammed to bridge these differences, creating a unified circulation system.
Metal cladding was used for new external volumes, maintaining an overall utilitarian vernacular. Curved forms within the envelope give glimpses into the office spaces and soften the robust aesthetic.
Interior spaces were refurbished with a palette of natural materials, which compliment the exposed iron structures. Planters address biophilic design principles and line the breakout space on each of the office floors. The open-plan layout was complemented by striking green kitchenettes against white walls and high-quality timber finishes.
The transformation of New River Yard successfully unified three separate buildings into a cohesive and vibrant office campus.
Transforming New River Yard into a Unified Campus The refurbishment of New River Yard for Highbridge Estates involved transforming a 70,000 square-foot warehouse space into a cohesive and vibrant office campus, bringing together three separate buildings to foster a sense of community.
The project aimed to integrate three separate buildings into a cohesive campus, enhancing connectivity and community. Additional stories were added to the roof to increase volume, and a new cut-through café space was created on the ground floor at the corner, providing views into a central courtyard, making better use of this space.
The office spaces were refurbished with a palette of materials including planters, timber floors, and exposed iron structures. The open-plan layout was complemented by striking black kitchenettes against white and high-quality timber finishes.
The building’s hard warehouse aesthetic was softened using curves and natural materials like CLT for the structure. Metal cladding was used for extensions, maintaining robustness while adding a softer visual appeal with curves that give glimpses into the office spaces beyond.
Creating a Harmonious Office Campus: The transformation of New River Yard successfully unified three separate buildings into a cohesive and vibrant office campus. By integrating additional stories, creating a café space, and enhancing the central courtyard, the design fosters a sense of community. The thoughtful use of materials and curves softened the warehouse’s hard aesthetic, making it a welcoming environment for modern office use. This project exemplifies how careful design can bring together disparate elements to create a functional and engaging workspace.
39 St. James
Location: St James’s, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2025
Size: 24,200 sqft
Client: The Crown Estate
Embracing history and enhancing functionality at 39 St James
This project aims to honour the building’s rich architectural heritage. Our design concept draws inspiration from the Neo-Baroque period, known for its dramatic play of light and shadow, rich ornamentation, and dynamic forms.
To bring these qualities into the interior, the proposal uses high-quality and durable materials such as oak and marble, characteristic of the Neo-Baroque era. The introduction of burgundy-tinted glass adds a contrasting contemporary design element alongside organic shapes in lighting fixtures and decoration.
Tracing decorative on the facade and drawing these through to the interior, ensures continuity and maintains the building’s distinctive character.
Great Eastern Street
Location: Shoreditch, London
Sector: Office / Commercial
Year: 2023
How can you revitalise a low-quality building and make it more sophisticated on a limited budget?
The existing building was characterised by unattractive green panels and a generally poor appearance. To unify the facade, we introduced horizontal banding to connect it with its neighbours. The building on the right was listed, necessitating a careful design approach. We simplified the facade with two-tonal colours, creating a dark plinth and a white upper section.
British Library Members Lounge
The British Library Members’ Room in Kings Cross completed July 2019. A new study space with a range of working environments.
Finished in oak, brass and perforated plasterboard the design references the palette chosen by Colin St John Wilson for the rest of the British Library. The new space also references the original grid which runs through walls, floors, and ceilings organizing the workstations, lighting and floor finishes giving the room a unique character..