33 Bowling Green Lane
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David Lambert Download Original
Refurbishment of an old print works warehouse into office space with a new courtyard infill, atrium and roof terrace
Originally a printing works built in 1935 the building was constructed in two parts connected by a series of bridges along the south façade. The courtyard behind housed an electricity substation and a small car park.
The key move in refitting the building was to enclose the existing courtyard and bridge across the north façade with a fully glazed link. This link connects both halves of each floorplate and creates a large, bright meeting room or break out space. There are two studio office spaces on the ground floor and one each on the upper floors.
The courtyard is the hub of the building and appears to be illuminated by giant incandescent light bulbs as dusk falls. In reality, they house fibre optic emitters and the ‘bulbs’ are hand blown from standard laboratory flasks into the classic light bulb shape. The installation allows the light sources to gradually change in intensity, with overall light levels controlled by projectors hidden on the fourth floor.
Data
- Begun: Sep 2008
- Completed: Feb 2010
- Floor area: 5,370m2
- Sector: Office
- Total cost: £6.4M
- Funding: Private
- Tender date: Feb 2008
- Procurement: JCT Intermediate IC05
- Address: 33 Bowling Green Lane, London, EC1R 0BJ, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Nissen Adams
- Client: Goodman Mann Broomhall
- Main contractor: Killby and Gayford
- Structural engineer: Michael Chester and Partners
- Services engineer: The Monalco Partnership
- Quantity surveyor: William Brady Associates