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.
