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Blue Sky House

Luz Vargas Architects, London, 2004

 

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The view along the north side of the second floor central zone 

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  • The view along the north side of the second floor central zone    
  • The ground floor waiting area    
  • The first floor showing large porthole windows    
  • A first floor interview room    
  • The second floor central zone opened up    
  • The second floor meeting room    
  • Ground floor plan    
  • First floor plan    
  • Second floor plan    
  • Third floor plan    
  • Cross section    

Sharply detailed office refurbishment in a 1960's office block for a firm of solicitors with 120 staff in Kennington, London

The building had stood empty for nearly three years and had been stripped for refurbishment. The solicitor would lease a third of the ground floor as reception/entrance and the three 400m2 floors above.

The central zone stands as an object within each floor, marked by its painted steel frame, though its role and extent of enclosure vary from floor to floor. The zone includes existing columns, fortunately not on the centre-line, which have been steel-cased to strengthen them to help support the new rooftop flats.

On the first floor the central zone contains mainly client interview rooms, with 1.4m-diameter etched-glass portholes that provide some daylight but prevent overlooking into the surrounding work areas.

On the second and third floors, the central zone is narrower so the surrounding office spaces feel more open. The second-floor central zone has a café area and modular boardroom table allowing the whole space to be kept as one or divided into two or three.

On the third floor, the central zone accommodates an IT room, four quiet rooms and admin offices.

Data

  • Begun: Sep 2003
  • Completed: 2004
  • Floor area: 1,448m2
  • Sector: Office
  • Total cost: £1.3M
  • Tender date: Jul 2003
  • Procurement: JCT Design & Build
  • Address: Blue Sky House, 405 Kennington Road, Kennington, London, SE11 4PT, United Kingdom

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