45 Fouberts Place

Facing out onto a pedestrianised street, the existing building was an unsightly companion to a collection of historic buildings. We were asked to add a new public face and create a desirable collection of workspaces befitting a location in the heart of Soho, so our key moves involved significantly refurbishing the internal floorplates and adding a new fourth floor, with a communal roof terrace crowning the building.

Upon entry, a double-height space serves as the building’s main reception and café space, with seating facing out towards the street and a bespoke stainless-steel veil to conceal the bar and an exposed brick wall. Custom-made cabinetry made from oiled Ash timber, frames this bar and extends to the mezzanine level.

We wanted to improve the building’s external appearance but still ensure it had a distinctive presence, appropriate for the colourful and lurid character of Soho. Turquoise glazed brick is used around crittall-style windows, contrasted against white brick used for the building’s base.

For the upper floors, we consciously retained the building’s industrial character, such as wooden floors, exposed brickwork and concrete ceilings. Steel columns, which informally demarcate bays within each floor, were retained and left exposed, existing as industrial totems within an open and flexible floorplate.

By reducing the amount of plant atop the building and concealing it from surrounding views, we were able to add a new roof terrace that provides a welcoming outdoor space for the building’s users.