Case Study
7 Clarges Street, London,

UK – British land A new office building a stone’s throw from London’s Green Park with 4,600 sq m of space, 7 Clarges Street was developed by British Land and designed by Squire and Partners. Finished with Portland stone and quintessentially British details, the building completed construction in summer 2016 and aims to blend the traditions of Mayfair architecture with contemporary design.

An illuminated projecting canopy marks the entrance to the building, referencing historic covered entrances at nearby Claridge’s and Burlington Arcade. Glazed openings at street level offer views into the office reception area, designed as a gallery space in which bespoke commissioned artworks are displayed.

The building rises six storeys, with the uppermost levels incorporating private terraces affording views across neighbouring Green Park and beyond to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. These private office floors are flooded with natural light that flows into the column-free spaces through floor-to-ceiling windows. The design of the windows incorporates a subtle reference to the DAKS House Check, a pattern first introduced in 1976 and associated with fine British tailoring.

Within the reception area, stand-out design features include a bespoke desk commissioned from creative studio Based Upon, presented as a fragmented mass of bronze that on closer inspection reveals inlaid patterns made from leaves collected from Green Park.

Located on the lower ground floor are 55 bicycle spaces and 36 lockers for folding bicycles, with 12 showers, finished to the style of a Mayfair Club, available throughout the building. There are also five car parking spaces on the lower ground floor, complete with charging points for electric cars.

7 Clarges Street, London

Nigel Webb, head of development at British Land, says: ‘The result of innovative construction techniques, a highly collaborative project team, and a design response that focuses on a bespoke workspace, which promotes wellness and supports a healthy, active lifestyle, 7 Clarges Street sets a new benchmark for commercial space in Mayfair.

‘British Land committed to working with architects Squire and Partners to craft a building that was intrinsically “Mayfair”, speaking to the traditional architecture of the area and the strength of its creative heritage, while providing flexible spaces to meet the needs of an evolving occupier market.’

He adds: ‘It was important for us to work collaboratively with a design practice that had an intrinsic understanding of the local area, and we found this in Squire and Partners, which has handled the project with commendable passion and attention to detail, both through the external architecture and curation of the interior design.’

Tim Gledstone of Squire and Partners says: ‘From the outset of 7 Clarges Street, high-level conversations were held between British Land and Squire and Partners to envision a workplace that challenged established conventions of standardised office developments, offering a distinct identity, exemplary facilities and an intrinsically Mayfair character. As part of the wider Clarges Street development being created by British Land with Squire and Partners, this collaborative approach brought together various sectors to create a complementary mix of uses including residential, workplace, retail and restaurant.

‘Designs for the workspace were inspired by Mayfair elegance with a clubhouse feel and strong street presence, providing facilities to enhance the experience for building users. The facade offers a contemporary tailored response to the established streetscape, using Portland stone with crisp bronze anodised framed windows.’

Gledstone adds that the interior design was distilled into four themes: British fashion and tailoring, Mayfair elegance, Green Park and nature, and Mayfair Club. These were woven into the scheme that includes a reception gallery featuring commissioned artworks, crafted joinery, bespoke furniture and lighting pieces, and hand-finished interior elements. Office units have access to spa-quality cycle/changing facilities and roof terraces with views to Green Park.

Case Study
The Exchange, Accra, Ghana – HOK

The Exchange, a 98,000 sq m mixed-use development in Accra, Ghana, has been awarded preliminary EDGE green building certification. HOK was the lead consultant and design architect on the project, working in collaboration with executive architect Dar Al-Handasah. It is HOK’s first project to achieve this credential since the firm entered into a partnership agreement with World Bank Group member IFC in April 2016 to use IFC’s EDGE green building software and certification system. EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) promotes sustainability in projects in emerging markets around the world.

Under construction in the expanding airport district of the Ghanaian capital, the development includes a Radisson Blu luxury hotel, apartments, two office buildings, and more than 10,500 sq m of retail and public outdoor space. The project is expected to complete in 2018.

‘The Exchange complex represents everything we are striving to achieve with EDGE,’ says Prashant Kapoor, IFC’s principal green building specialist and inventor of EDGE. ‘It is a symbol of how leading architecture practices such as HOK can work together with financiers and major hotel brands to bring resource-efficient design to life in emerging markets. We are grateful that HOK has championed the belief that inspiring design and sustainability are inseparable.’

The Exchange, Accra, Ghana – HOK

Ronak Gawarwala, sustainable design leader at HOK, comments: ‘This is a great achievement for the project team, as it demonstrates how certifications such as EDGE recognise sustainability measures that reflect the local climate and context of a project. The development emphasises passive design strategies, featuring a compact form with shaded public spaces that surround the entire retail area and reduce air conditioning demand.’

The new shopping destination features several distinct outdoor zones, including a lushly planted streetscape, a high-quality open-air shopping environment, restaurant terraces, a rooftop pool and garden spaces. A large green buffer mitigates the urban island heat effect, particulate pollution and surface run-off while providing a green park space. The landscape design draws inspiration from the strong angular geometry found within Ghanaian kente cloth.

Case Study
Gmond International Building, Shenzhen, China – Shenzhen Gmond

The Gmond International Building is a regeneration project in Shenzhen old town, China. The 60,000sqm project, designed by Aedas, will house the headquarters for Tellus-Gmond along with Grade 5A lettable office space and a jewellery trading centre.

Led by Aedas’ project design director Andy Wen, the architectural form of this 200m-high skyscraper is a reference to the traditional Chinese bamboo, which in Chinese culture symbolises prosperity and moral integrity. The ascending podium structure, representing a growing bamboo, features exterior landscaped staircases, public platforms, ecofriendly rooftop gardens and an art centre that will also serve as a jewellery exhibition venue. The podium facade signifies large bamboo leaves enclosing the commercial component, creating an arresting aesthetic with the blooming tower.

Jiong Huang, executive director of Shenzhen Gmond Investment Holdings, comments: ‘The main objective is to build the best landmark building, comprising office and residential usages, in the Tellus-Gmond Golden Jewellery Industry Park to establish a strong brand for Gmond International.

While there are many challenges expanding our business from the jewellery market to property development, we are looking to create some links between the two industries as well as further strengthening the brand influence for both Gmond and the tenants.’

Gmond International Building, Shenzhen, China – Shenzhen Gmond

The well-connected transport hub nearby ensures easy access to the development and supports the possibility of further growth on the site.

The project is due to complete in 2019. Huang adds: ‘The real estate market in China has been changing rapidly. In Shenzhen there is still a strong demand for office and residential buildings.

‘As a relatively young city developing rapidly, Shenzhen has promising prospects in industries such as IT, biology and finance. The overall planning of the city is rather new and its close proximity to Hong Kong attracts people to work and live here.’ He concludes: ‘We have confidence in the demand for office and residential developments, and that confidence is reflected in the current sales and rental data.’

Case Study
CB1, Cambridge, UK – Brookgate

Considered by many to be the UK’s technology hub, Cambridge is in the process of acquiring a new quarter filled with offices, homes, shops, cafes, and leisure facilities.

The developer, Brookgate, obtained outline planning permission for the Lord Rogers-designed CB1 masterplan in 2010. The ambitious plan aims to regenerate 9.9 hectares of brownfield land in the station area to create a new gateway for the city.

Brookgate is working with a number of architecture practices, including Chetwoods, Formation Architects, Grimshaw, Oxford Architects and TP Bennett, to deliver the mixed-use development. The scheme includes Grade A office space, new homes, 1,000 student residences, retail outlets, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities. It also incorporates an upgraded transport interchange and Station Square, a new 7,900 sq m public space spanning the entire front of Cambridge’s historic station building.

CB1, Cambridge, UK – Brookgate

Highlights of the CB1 masterplan include the UK’s largest cycle park with 3,000 spaces, designed by Formation Architects and built on top of the new ibis hotel. One Station Square is a flagship office building, conceived as a focal point for the development, while 21 Station Road, occupied by Microsoft Research, was designed by Chetwoods with an emphasis on creative and collaborative spaces.

Finally, 50 & 60 Station Road is intended to accommodate the regional offices of world-class companies in what is the largest speculative office building to be developed in the city centre.

Case Study
Jumeirah Al Naseem, Dubai, UAE – Jumeirah Group

The final part of the luxury Madinat Jumeirah resort project in Dubai dropped into place late last year when Jumeirah Al Naseem opened its doors. The hotel adds a contemporary architectural twist to the line-up at the resort, which includes two grand boutique hotels and traditional summer-house accommodation.

Jumeirah Al Naseem, Dubai, UAE – Jumeirah Group

The resort’s completion also marks the end of Jumeirah Group’s wider scheme to transform 2k of coastline into a major tourist destination. The process began in 1997 with the opening of Jumeirah Beach Hotel and continued with the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah resort.