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<\/p>\nDesigned by Richard Seifert and Partners in 1968, the same architects behind Centre Point, the Grade II-listed Space House has a distinctive 17-storey cylindrical tower with precast cruciform fa\u00e7ade sitting on \u2018Y\u2019-shaped columns. It is connected to a rectilinear block via a connecting bridge.<\/p>\n
It received Grade II listing status in 2015 after being deemed one of the finest examples of Mid-Century Modern Brutalism.<\/p>\n
Previously refurbished in 1996 and 2003, Space House was inhabited only by the Civil Aviation Authority until 2019, when developers Seaforth Land and QuadReal Property Group acquired the building.<\/p>\n
Squire & Partners was commissioned to lead on the retrofit of the building, removing layers of subsequent interventions to reveal Seifert\u2019s original architecture, plus adding to a rooftop extension providing new workspace.<\/p>\n
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The ground floor level and surrounding public realm has been improved and activated by the creation of retail spaces.<\/p>\n
Ninety per cent of the original precast structure has been restored and retained, saving approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.<\/p>\n
The two-storey rooftop extension reinstates Seifert\u2019s original intention for a crisp roofline silhouette. This extension also conceals high-performing services using air source heat pumps, replacing AC units collected on the roof level by previous occupants. The building is all-electric.<\/p>\n
Constructing this involved a process of unstitching the precast \u2018T\u2019-form structures that crowned the tower for renovation, then reinstating these above a new section of cruciform structures matching the original 1960s concrete units.<\/p>\n
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The former underground car park has been turned into cycle storage for 600 bikes and 62 showers. A petrol station canopy at the base of the tower has been reimagined as the restaurant Filling Station \u2013 now one of six on-site leisure spaces.<\/p>\n
At ground floor is a 930m2<\/sup> circular, double-height lobby and reception that is completely column-free and serviced by six lifts. Throughout, the building\u2019s character has been maintained through polished concrete floors and original mosaic tiling in the stair cores restored. New terrazzo flooring has been installed in common areas.<\/p>\n Space House is the largest listed building in the UK to date to achieve BREEAM Outstanding. This has been facilitated by deep articulation of the existing fa\u00e7ade providing passive solar shading while dilapidated parts of the envelope have been replaced to meet new standards.<\/p>\n Heating and cooling are provided by bespoke chilled beams, designed to fit within the existing radial ceiling coffers.<\/p>\n We must look back to go forwards. The aptly named Space House \u2013 a trailblazing example of modern architecture built during the first forays into space exploration \u2013 has taught us many lessons. The opportunity to realise its full refurbishment required passion, vision and commitment to not only revive its legacy, but to elevate it \u2013 bringing it closer to Seifert\u2019s original design intent than its final built-out form ever achieved.<\/p>\n Our approach focused on removing layers of subsequent interventions to retain, expose and celebrate the original architecture and vision. At the same time, we introduced respectful and highly sustainable new additions to activate the public realm, create future-ready workspaces and extend the building\u2019s lifespan for generations to come.<\/p>\n A key intervention was reinstating Seifert\u2019s intention for a crisp roofline silhouette and a naturally ventilated building. We removed accumulated rooftop AC units, and added a rooftop extension to create two additional workspace floors and conceal a new, high-performing services installation utilising air source heat pumps.<\/p>\n This involved a painstaking process of unstitching the precast T-form structures that crowned the building for vital restoration and renovation, before reinstating them above a new section of cruciform structures that were carefully matched to the concrete composition of the original \u201860s units.<\/p>\n Delivering this ambitious retrofit was made possible by an extraordinary team of doers, makers, and believers, all united in their commitment to revitalising this architectural icon. \u00a0<\/span> At the heart of Seaforth\u2019s approach to developing Space House was our desire to create a building that provides its users with an engaging and seemingly effortless experience, despite the six years of heartfelt dedication from a world class design and consultant team. The result is more than an architecturally stunning building, it is a globally significant testament to the potential that these iconic mid-century buildings represent, nestled 200m from Covent Garden Market.<\/p>\n Squires has done an extraordinary job in bringing to life and even elevating Richard Seifert and George Marsh\u2019s original intent from 1968, when Space House was first built. Space House takes great joy in offering an optimistic and human-centric alternative to today\u2019s commodity-led office buildings through its best-in-class amenities and an inspiring, healthy and peaceful work environment, designed to help employers win the war for talent and earn their commute. \u00a0<\/span> Location<\/strong> Covent Garden, London Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2%<\/strong> Refurbished areas: >60%, new construction areas: >80% Designed by Richard Seifert and Partners in 1968, the same architects behind Centre Point, the Grade II-listed Space House has a distinctive 17-storey cylindrical tower with precast cruciform fa\u00e7ade sitting on \u2018Y\u2019-shaped columns. It is connected to a rectilinear block via a connecting bridge. It received Grade II listing status in 2015 after being deemed …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59337,"featured_media":779340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[1624,1342,101559,13784],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/18144140\/untitled-1064535-scaled.webp\")
<\/p>\n\nArchitect\u2019s view\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/18144319\/04_SpaceHouse_Sketch-copy-scaled.webp\")
<\/p>\n
\nTim Gledstone, senior partner, Squire & Partners<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/18144224\/01_SpaceHouse_GF-scaled.webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nClient\u2019s view<\/h3>\n
\nTyler Goodwin, CEO and founder, Seaforth<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/18144304\/03_SpaceHouse_3rdFloor-scaled.webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nProject data<\/h3>\n
\nStart on site<\/strong> Demolition works: July 2020, construction works: April 2022
\nCompletion<\/strong>\u00a0October 2024
\nGross internal floor area<\/strong> 35,615m2
\n<\/sup>Gross (internal + external) floor area<\/strong> 35,972m2
\n<\/sup>Form of contract<\/strong>\u00a0Design and build
\nConstruction cost<\/strong> \u00a3110 million
\nConstruction cost per m2 <\/sup><\/strong>\u00a32,977
\nArchitect<\/strong> Squire & Partners
\nClient<\/strong> Joint venture QuadReal Property Group with Seaforth Land and Atelier Capital Partners
\nStructural engineer<\/strong> Pell Frischmann
\nM&E consultant<\/strong> Atelier Ten
\nQS<\/strong> Gardiner & Theobald
\nHeritage consultant<\/strong> Donald Insall Associates
\nLandscape consultant <\/strong>Gustafson Porter + Bowman
\nProject manager<\/strong> Gerald Eve
\nPrincipal designer<\/strong> Squire & Partners
\nApproved building inspector<\/strong> Sweco
\nMain contractor<\/strong> Enabling and demolition works: Erith, restoration contractor: Paye Stonework & Restoration
\nCAD software used Revit<\/p>\nEnvironmental performance data<\/h3>\n
\nPercentage of floor area with daylight factor >5%<\/strong> Not assessed
\nOn-site energy generation<\/strong> Nil
\nAnnual mains water consumption<\/strong> 3.7 m3<\/sup>\/person\/year
\nAirtightness at 50Pa<\/strong> 5.34 m3<\/sup>\/h.m2
\n<\/sup>Heating and hot water load<\/strong> 17 kWh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nOperational energy (predicted)<\/strong> 107.5 kWh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr (whole building), 78.2 kWh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr (base energy use)
\nTotal energy load<\/strong> 103.5 kWh\/m2<\/sup>\/yr
\nOverall area-weighted U-value<\/strong> Glazing and curtain walling: 1.51 W\/m\u00b2K, retained walls: 1.91 W\/m\u00b2K, new walls: 0.28 W\/m\u00b2K, basement wall 0.287 W\/m\u00b2K, roof: 0.18 W\/m\u00b2K, roof (retail canopy): 2.2 W\/m\u00b2K, retained exposed floor: 1.86 W\/m\u00b2K
\nPredicted design life<\/strong> 60 years
\nEmbodied carbon<\/strong> 333 kgCO2<\/sub>\/m2 <\/sup>(LETI), 348 kgCO2<\/sub>\/m2<\/sup> (GLA)
\nWhole-life carbon<\/strong> 714 kgCO2<\/sub>\/m2
\n<\/sup>Annual CO2<\/sub> emissions<\/strong> 14 kgCO2<\/sub>\/m2<\/sup>
\nBREEAM rating<\/strong> Outstanding (2024)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"