Fouberts Street
Sitting within the Regent Street Conservation Area, this low carbon workplace fit out is located in a building of heritage significance on a highly trafficked street in Soho.
The brief is for a timeless, unique, and sustainable installation that can be appreciated by both the public and the building’s users. The junction of colourful Soho hitting the timeless Regency architecture and what that means for an architectural proposition.
A key driver of the project was the retention and adaptation of the existing building fabric wherever possible, significantly reducing embodied carbon associated with demolition and new construction. The design approach prioritised reuse over replacement, carefully integrating existing architectural elements and infrastructure into the new workplace environment to extend the life of the building in a meaningful and pragmatic way.
Materials were selected with longevity, durability and low environmental impact in mind, favouring timeless finishes and adaptable interventions over short-term trends or unnecessary replacement cycles. This layered approach to sustainability allows the project to preserve the character and value of the existing structure while delivering a contemporary workplace aligned with evolving environmental standards.
The design approach focuses on crafting a low-carbon workplace environment that celebrates the building’s heritage significance while introducing a refined contemporary identity. Rich materiality, warm tonal layering and carefully integrated sustainable interventions combine to create spaces that feel elegant, tactile and long-lasting rather than trend-driven.
Conceived as more than simply a workspace, the fit out has been designed as an installation that contributes positively to the wider public realm experience while enhancing the day-to-day environment for its occupants. Through a restrained and enduring architectural language, the project seeks to create a destination that quietly elevates the historic fabric of the building while supporting a contemporary and flexible way of working.
Conceived as more than simply a workspace, the fit out has been designed as an installation that contributes positively to the wider public realm experience while enhancing the day-to-day environment for its occupants. Through a restrained and enduring architectural language, the project seeks to create a destination that quietly elevates the historic fabric of the building while supporting a contemporary and flexible way of working.
The reception arrival is framed by a bespoke bronze lattice installation that draws inspiration from the ornamental detailing and repeating rhythms found throughout Regency architecture, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Carefully crafted as a refined layer set within the historic stone facade, the lattice introduces depth, shadow and texture to the entrance sequence, creating a moment of warmth and identity along the busy Soho streetscape.
The soft metallic finish and intricate geometry balance permanence with delicacy, allowing the intervention to feel both timeless and distinctly modern. During the day, natural light catches the bronze surfaces to create shifting reflections and shadow play, while in the evening the illuminated reception glows subtly through the patterned screen, giving the building a calm civic presence within the energy and colour of Soho.
The interior approach is intentionally calm and pared back, creating a timeless workplace environment defined by warmth, light and material simplicity. Soft neutral tones are paired with natural timber finishes and herringbone flooring, subtly referencing the elegance and rhythm of Regency interiors while avoiding pastiche.
The breakout and arrival spaces are designed as calm, residential-style environments that encourage informal working, conversation and moments of pause throughout the day. Warm timber flooring, soft tonal finishes and abundant planting create a relaxed atmosphere that feels intentionally distinct from the pace and intensity of the surrounding Soho streetscape.
The kitchen spaces are conceived as understated social anchors within the workplace, bringing together hospitality, functionality and crafted materiality in a highly refined way. Rich walnut-toned joinery and textured stone surfaces introduce depth and warmth, creating a tactile contrast against the lighter architectural backdrop while reinforcing the project’s timeless character.
