Fletcher Priest has revived listed 19th century Carmelite House, originally the headquarters of Lord Northcliffe’s publishing empire situated within the Conservation Area on Victoria Embankment, to transform it into the headquarters for contemporary publishing group Hachette UK.
Carmelite House had been re-worked and added to significantly since its occupation by Associated Newspapers. Our sensitive re-development of the site preserves and restores the Listed façade whilst replacing the 1990s intervention with a building which sympathetically responds to its environment whilst reusing the modern structure of the former building.
Among the factors that give additional value over standard high quality central London office space, are its riverside location and historic character. The new riverfront façade is proportioned to enhance its presence and make it legible from the South Bank, while a garden and glazed pavilion at roof level give occupants magnificent views across the river to Tate Modern and the Millennium Wheel. Throughout the building we make thematic use of the original design, recreating its decorative motifs with new materials and fabrication techniques to make the basis for contemporary features, such as 3d ceramic tiles in the washrooms, ventilation grilles and rooftop cladding.
This project extends our portfolio of high quality sustainable workplaces which draw value and character from their context and existing features. Here reusing the 1990s structure takes advantage of its large open plan floorplates and helped to keeps costs remarkably low (tendered in 2012 at £137/ sq ft) underwriting the strength of our vision for a modern workplace enriched by acknowledging its past.
Quadrant Estates’ Partner Graham Tyler commented: “We are extremely proud of the new headquarters building that Fletcher Priest Architects has created, which will soon be occupied by its new tenant, Hachette UK. Our highlights are the stunning roof terrace and the restoration of the 19th century façade at the rear of the building.”
“Carmelite House is a magnificent building in a magnificent location. We are looking forward enormously to moving in Spring next year. The building, which incorporates listed features from Lord Northcliffe’s day with the very best of modern design, will be great place to work and the roof terrace, with its 1/4 acre of garden will be a great place for our staff to relax and admire what is surely one of the best views of London.” Chris Emerson Chief Operating Officer, Hachette UK
