Design
History
#architecture
#bricks
#Corstorphine & Wright
#London
July 22, 2024
Kate Mothes
All images © Corstorphine & Wright, shared with permission
From an office building in Southwark, London, an innovative expansion emerges in white glazed brick. Architecture firm Corstorphine & Wright conceived of “The Scoop,” a contemporary twist on a historic building in the Union Street Conservation Area, to modernize an existing structure and recognize its past. About 500 meters from the River Thames and centered on Union Street and Southwark Bridge Road, the quarter consists of predominantly 19th-century industrial warehousing, commercial spaces, and ecclesiastical structures.
“It was important for us to honour the cultural and historic context of the area and respect the neighbouring church building, ensuring its visibility and reverence,” says David Croswaithe, director of Corstorphine & Wright. “The resulting building is a carefully orchestrated balance, allowing its neighbours to shine whilst also shining itself and adding to the vibrant architectural cultural variety of the area.”
“The Scoop” reuses an existing four-story building, affixing a side and upward extension that increases office space and adds a roof garden with panoramic city views. Its characteristic, semi-circular void creates a “visual bridge” between its facade and an adjacent church’s striking circular window. When viewed from an angle facing the church, the concave form of the new facade provides a striking frame for the historical feature.
Find more on the firm’s website.
#architecture
#bricks
#Corstorphine & Wright
#London
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