Underground Urbanism by Reynolds Elizabeth;

Author:Reynolds, Elizabeth;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2020-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Fig. 5.4

Cuyperpassage — entrance

Fig. 5.5

Cuyperpassage — mosaic

Fig. 5.6

Amsterdam Central Station — section with Cuyperpassage on lower level

Fig. 5.7 (over page)

Cuyperpassage, Amsterdam

32 Cleveland Street London, United Kingdom

In 2012 Make architects sought to find a new home for their London headquarters, not an easy task given their specific needs, however, by looking underground they were able to see the potential in an unlikely space. Wanting to stay in the Fitzrovia area of London close to good transport; clients; suppliers; other creative industries; and some fine pubs, Make began the search for somewhere to accommodate their growing team. The need to find a large office, all on one level, with street presence, and affordable rent in central London was an ambitious task. During their search, they became aware of a local car park that not only met their size and location requirements, but also offered the potential to showcase their ambition ‘to design the best buildings, places and spaces in the world’.

The 1,300 sqm car park is located in Middlesex House, a five-storey art deco building constructed in 1934 which in its early years accommodated factory space on the upper storeys and a car showroom in the basement. More recently the upper floors have been used as office space including by owners Derwent London, with the basement let to National Car Parks. Private vehicle use in central London has fallen in recent years and as a result, the car park was underutilised and attracting a lower property value per square foot than alternative spaces. When Derwent suggested the car park to Make they saw an opportunity to design their own unique studio, in a desirable area, with affordable rent and the security of long-term tenancy. In considering how to adapt the car park for use as an office, Make aimed to maintain the utilitarian, industrial look and feel of the space — with exposed services and pipework and retained original features such as the painted parking columns — yet also create a functional, high-spec studio space which could cater for approximately 160 employees. The office also had to adopt an open-plan layout, in line with Make’s non-hierarchical company structure.

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