The area around Farringdon station has been transformed through the Crossrail station. Some time prior to this major infrastructure project was conceived, our client had purchased two buildings close to the station, at a time when the area had not undergone this face lift and gentrification. The existing array of buildings on the site were underused and in a state of disrepair. 

 

Two retail spaces on ground floor and basement were retained and flats and live-work units developed for all upper floors and the rear ground and lower ground floors. The existing building fabric consisting of yellow stock brick and in parts white glazed bricks was repaired, restored and where necessary reinstated. In a bold statement, the new infill and roof extensions were dressed in a distinctively different linear zinc cladding. The strict and precise lines of the panels fill the voids between higher buildings of the adjoining sites. Yet, its solid materiality makes for a calm and balancing appearance. The contrast between the matt, dark grey metal respects and enhances the softness of the existing brick facades and confidently merges different eras of styles.