Despite its quietly composed front elevation, Summit House is a confused agglomeration of extensions, infills and refurbishments added in phases over almost a century. Originally built in 1925 for the Austin Reed gentleman’s clothing company, it is Grade II-listed for its faience-clad, modernist façade.
Our brief was to make sense of the confused internal layout, and extend and upgrade the six storeys of dated office floors. The addition of two extensions and an infill, in a variety of styles, meant there were numerous level changes and deep structural spine walls at the junctions between phases.
We rationalised the fragmented building plan, demolishing the spine walls to open up the office floorplates, and raising the floors themselves to achieve smoother changes in level. This gave us sufficient floor void to be able to add improved servicing and air distribution.
