Belgravia House had a so much going for it - a handsome facade, a prominent corner location just a stone's throw from the Houses of Parliament, and enough space to create a modern, flexible HQ for a high-profile company.
But when we first visit, everything about it was slightly apologetic. The entrance was mean and unwelcoming, the spaces beyond were dark and cheerless, and the functional elements of the building undermined its many finer elements.
We could immediately see the potential, and so could our engaged an team-spirited client. With their interest in heritage ad sustainability, they were on the same page as us from the start. The was never about a quick fix and papering over of the cracks but - instead - it was an opportunity to transform a dilapidated building into first-class offices for quality-conscious tenants. And, as the client's first project, it was about establishing their reputation too.
Delving back into the original purpose of Belgravia House turned up plenty of inspiration for the journey ahead. It was built as a lodging house for destitute boys in 1912, and a red lamp shone from its roof as a beacon of hope and help for those in need. But after such a positive start, the second half of the twentieth century brought with it a more destructive mindset. Now, of the original construction, only the facades and steel frame remained.
Here lay our opportunity to breathe life and purpose back into this dysfunctional, unhappy building, celebrate its heritage, and create something beautiful and welcoming once more. We'd carry the story forward and give it the long and positive future it deserved.
