Hawkins\Brown has completed the renovation of a former factoryat 3 Haberdasher Street in London for British menswearaccessories manufacturer and acclaimed maker of qualityhandmade ties, Drake’s.
It is a significant renovation project, restoring a classic 1930sbuilding in a prime location on the corner of East Road andHaberdasher Street in the heart of East London’s Tech City neighbourhood.
The 4,320 sq m six-storey building relocates the company’sClerkenwell-based workshop and Rotherhithe-based distributioncentre and consolidates these services into a new Londonheadquarters dedicated to the design, manufacture, distributionand administration of the business (the flagship store remains onClifford Street, W1S). The development also includes prime officespace and apartments for rent.
The scheme, designed in close collaboration with Drake’s,celebrates the light industrial aesthetic of the former factorybuilding, whilst reflecting Drake’s commitment to tradition andcraftsmanship through material specification and detailing.
The new double glazed Crittall windows are a prime example of thisapproach. Hand-made locally in Critall’s factory in Essex, theyreplace uPVC windows, reinstating the original glazed curve on thecorner of Haberdasher Street and East Road. A herringbonepattern, ubiquitous in traditional British fabrics, is a recurring motifin the detailing, from the original wire cut bricks to the oak parquetfloors and the terrace decking.
The building is accessed from Haberdasher Street with an entrancedirectly into a factory shop displaying a selection of ties and men’saccessories. The ground floor also includes an administration areafor 16 desks, a meeting room and a warehouse with adjoiningspaces for packing and distribution. Areas are subdivided byglazed Crittall screens to provide visual connection across thespace.
In recognition of Drake’s strong and loyal workforce and thecompany’s desire to create the best environment for its employees,the design studio and workroom occupy the first floor in a freeflowingnon-hierarchical layout. Whilst fabrics and patterns for tiesand accessories are designed in the studio, the tie manufacturingprocess takes place in the workroom, with individual workstationsfor 18 separate quality checks.
Also located on the first floor, the staff canteen is a bright airyspace that features two long tables to enable and encourage theemployees of Drake’s to take their lunch together.
Hawkins\Brown’s refurbishment opens up the original building,stripping it back to its concrete frame whilst retaining and reusingoriginal features including a caged lift and balustrades in thestairwell, port hole windows, concrete canopies and the streetfrontage clock which has been refurbished with Drake’s branding.
Concrete ceilings and columns are exposed to show the material ofthe building. Suspended ceilings have been removed and serviceducts bored through the original structural beams to increaseceiling heights. Oversized disc pendant lights detract fromoverhead services and serve to unify the entire floor, creating asense of non-hierarchical workspaces. Glazed Crittall partitions areutilised internally to create a light-filled and spacious workingenvironment with extensive views out. Floors are polished screed, arobust and durable finish to withstand the constant movement oftrolleys being wheeled between workstations.
Built-in furniture has been tailor made by Hawkins\Brown in closeconsultation with Drake’s Operational Director Chris Tanner.Crafted from MDF panels, the black units and white washed wallsprovide a monochrome backdrop to the brightly coloured fabricson Drake’s production line.Accessed via a separate entrance on Bevenden Street, the schemealso comprises prime office space for rent on the 2nd floor.
A third entrance on East Road gives access to Crafters House, theresidential aspect of the development. Located on the 3rd and 4thfloors of the building, it comprises nine apartments with access to acommunal roof terrace. Drake’s directors - Mark Cho and MichaelHill – have taken occupation of two of the nine apartments, therebyreinstating the British tradition of living above the shop. Theremaining seven apartments are being marketed as rentalproperties. Each apartment, two of which are duplexes, has aunique floorplan. All are finished with high quality fittings - includingoiled oak parquet flooring, black Smeg freestanding fridges andopen plan kitchen/diners, creating a warehouse aesthetic inkeeping with the entire redevelopment.