deMetzForbesKnight Originally the home of the Gas and Light Company, we have restored this beautiful broad fronted industrial building in the heart of Fitzrovia for use as offices. Location Rathbone Street, London Size 2,000 sqm Client Private Client Budget Undisclosed Interior design Bureau de Change Restored elevation to Rathbone Street On behalf of I.S.A. (Holdings), dMFK and Bureau De Change architects have completed the transformation of an Art Deco building on Rathbone Street, creating a contemporary and flexible workspace in this vibrant corner of Fitzrovia. The Gaslight embraces innovative modern design, whilst celebrating the distinct design heritage of the building and paying homage to the area, famed for its history of artisanal workshops and craftsmanship. The dMFK extension fills a former service yard, following the rights of light envelope Within dMFK architects’ refurbished, reconfigured and extended original building, Bureau de Change have created the interiors. Drawing on the building’s art deco character and the area’s rich heritage of craftsmanship, a cohesive visual narrative that runs throughout the building has been created. Architecture dMFK, Interiors Bureau de Change The dMFK designed rear extension infills a former service yard, and takes the form of a sculpted metal faceted ‘shell’, respecting neighbouring rights of light and creating floor to ceiling glazed ‘atelier’ inspired spaces throughout the building. At ground and basement, a retail / restaurant / gym opportunity is created, with window cills dropped to the street, helping the building to be more public facing. At the centre of the scheme is an innovative sculptural intervention by Bureau de Change in the new circulation core, that connects the four floors of offices. The two layers of bespoke, bronze-coloured filigree mesh generates a moiré effect that obscures the building’s concrete core. Architecture dMFK, Interiors Bureau de Change In the office spaces, the dMFK shell extension floods the new offices with daylight and completely transforms what was an inward facing building to being far more connected with it’s context. Architecture dMFK, Interiors Bureau de Change In the office spaces, the exposed services have been organised to complement the ceiling’s existing structural grid. Bespoke joinery by Bureau de Change covers the fan coil units that sit in the centre of the structural bays, articulated by linear lighting to create light and airy working spaces. A mezzanine floor has been inserted by Bureau de Change architects into the volume of the new roof. On one side the access stair has been neatly tucked away behind a dark grey volume. Whilst on the other side the mezzanine’s exposed profile is highlighted by a bronze ribbon that encapsulates its contours, in turn echoed by a bronze balustrade, which fans from either side into the middle as a rhythmic additional to the volume. Architecture dMFK, Interiors Bureau de Change The dMFK shell extension floods the new offices with daylight and completely transforms what was an inward facing building to being far more connected with it’s context. During construction Back to top The Old Library, 119 Cholmley Gardens, London, NW6 1AA T: +44(0)20 7435 1144 E: info@dmfk.co.uk Copyright © 2021 dMFK