Rochester Row

The development provides 34 private homes, with penthouse units offering two terraces and stunning views across London, and 17 affordable units. All of the accommodation meets the Ecohomes ‘Very Good’ environmental standard, with special emphasis on energy and water saving and the selection of materials and insulations that do not contribute to global warming.

In giving the building a new use, we wanted to create a high quality exterior, which would be subtle, modern and add variation to the immediate neighbourhood, while respecting the surrounding buildings.  As the development lies between two streets, Rochester Row and GreenCoat Place, and has completely different adjoining buildings either side, we used a classical, stripped down natural stone clad frame with glass and aluminium cladding in between. The facades are typified by crisp punched openings, with stone clad reveals, and recessed balconies with simply detailed glass balustrades.

One of the elements of particular note is how the principal facade to Rochester Row accommodates a series of aluminium art panels set over six floors, which together form a fractured, concentric circle art installation designed by Oliver Marsden. The artwork delivers the subtlety we were seeking and, because it catches the light, looks different from every angle and at varying times of day.

Our interior design for Rochester Row centres on a central atrium topped with an EFTE roof to introduce light and create a dramatic central space at the heart of the new building.

To emphasise the atrium as the focal point, a single lift shaft is installed and a free standing glazed staircase links to the rest of the development by bridges with glass balustrades, presenting dramatic views into the atrium as well out across the city through a vertical four storey ETFE wall.  Suspended over the concierge’s control point, is a 12 meter long illuminated chandelier assembled from hand blown glass, ovoid forms which refract the light day and night.

 Set deep within the heart of Westminster and sitting between the City Hall and the Channel 4 Building, the final scheme respects the traditional surrounding buildings with contemporary detailing, giving the design a clean, crisp appearance, and providing new residents with an interesting place to live.