Westminster Office, 560 North House London, Photos, Architecture, Building, Design

Westminster Offices: 560 North House

560 North House, London Building design by Ian Ritchie Architects, UK

post updated 4 Dec 2020 ; 4 Dec 2010

Westminster Office Interior

Address: 560 North House, Offices, London, England, UK
Date built: 2010
Design: Ian Ritchie Architects

photo : Stewart Hemley

Westminster Offices

560 North House: The brief required modern offices from two Grade II listed buildings (1931 with deco influences internally – Oliver Hill was the original architect) in a Westminster conservation area.

photograph : Stewart Hemley

The design ambition was to provide long life, accessible, and create a zen-like calm interior incorporating high environmental performance with ‘secret’ and ‘silent’ services without the need to open windows to outside noise, dirt and dust.

photograph : Stewart Hemley

The prominent street elevations were lightly refurbished maintaining their 1930s form. A single entrance was formed with a glazed stainless steel door installed behind the heritage entrance gates. The awful 1980s additions to the rear were replaced with a triple-glazed internal court providing year-round amenity and focus and opens into a landscaped court.

photo : Stewart Hemley

The inspiration for the interior design comes from the stainless steel line inlay in the travertine floor of one of the original dining rooms. Internally, using easily maintainable materials the calm feel is created by a flow of spaces framed by white painted plaster and white lacquered joinery, and highlighted by shot peened stainless steel skirting, railings and door frames glazed with clear, translucent or white glass. Colour is introduced using neuroscience ‘brainbow’ images in a Turkish hand woven carpet and a custom printed interlayer within a strip of glass floor – a lumium – which invigorates the boardroom landing.

photos : Ian Ritchie Architects

High performance multi-foil insulation is fitted within walls and roof along with double-glazed secondary windows that seamlessly match the existing. It was a considerable challenge to construct a compact and acoustic floor construction and to reinstate original levels while integrating an invisible chilled-ceiling system, air supply, power, ITC, and aspirating fire detection services.

Ventilation outlets are incorporated behind stainless steel grilles or discreetly at shadow gaps within fitted furniture. A deep borehole provides cooled water. Switches, sensors and sounders are incorporated into single stainless steel shot-peened coverplates. All ironmongery, fixed and loose furniture and lighting has been designed by the architects, as well as a new high performance very low energy task light.

photos : Stewart Hemley