Building F, King’s Cross, London

Following an invited design competition, we were appointed by Related Argent to design and deliver the last plot of the King’s Cross Central Masterplan.

Inspired by the industrial heritage of the King’s Cross area and warehouse building typologies within the Regent’s Canal Conservation Area, the proposed building is composed of a glazed and pre-cast concrete facade that is an expression of the internal structure. The frequency of the vertical subdivisions is a reinterpretation of the local industrial heritage of buildings in the King’s Cross area. The result is a facade composed of rhythmic vertical ‘piers’ with orientation specific changes in frequency that respond to the contrasting edges of the urban and canal aspects to the site.

The proposal is a six storey commercial block, with a flexible retail unit at ground and first floors, and a self-contained office unit at ground floor. The scheme provides six storeys of office with external terraces for every level, taking advantage of views towards the heart of the King’s Cross Development and beyond.

The building includes high sustainability/low energy initiatives in its planned construction and operation through a hybrid concrete and timber frame structure and highly engineered services strategy. The building is on target to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ with the potential to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating.