The façade that faces onto Baker Street
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Image of typical office floor
This image was taken in October 2006 while the building was being reconstructed. It is a photograph of Level 4 showing a typical office floor following the demolition of the former floor. The existing slabs have been stripped in preparation for the casting of new infill slabs.
Source of information : Annual 3 of Make Projects Book
Section of the front of the building
The shaded in area is the cross section of the atrium. Underneath the buidling there is a parking area.
Section of the whole building :
Plan of the ground floor
There isn't much detail put on my plan of the back of building because I wasn't allowed visit that part of it so therefore I do not know what it looks like. This plan shows the main entrance area including the reception and waiting areas.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Housing
At the rear of the building,on Rodmarton Street, there is a new developement of twenty houses and three apartments which offers affordable, key worker and private accomondation. The houses form a part of the 55 Baker Street project, but are separate from it and have an individual entrance from the street.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Origami chairs
Monday, November 23, 2009
Triangular features and furniture
This is an image of the roof of the atrium. The triangular net pattern is repeated in various features of the building.
Shapes of the light is reflected on the floor which adds an immediate atmosphere, and the reflections are diamond shape which reflects the pattern of the net of the building.
The entrance floor resembles the pattern of the building's façade.
The chairs which are part of Costa coffee shop are made to suite the building designers requirements. Interestingly, the chairs inside the coffee place are different to the ones which are behind it, and therefore in the interior of the building.
The seating in both waiting areas were designed by the architects who designed the building itself.
Even the design on the table matches the pattern of diamonds/triangles.
The reception desk was curved out of one piece of wood, so no pieces are joined together. Once again, with shapes of triangles.
The ceiling vent, which is located by the entrance is diamond shape.
The logo also designed by Make Archiects, is made up of triangles.
The floor of the VIP drop off area is designed following the same pattern.
The decoration on the door handles shows the same idea.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Locally sourced materials
Make Architects were keen to make use of ‘locally sourced’ products in the building, namely those from British manufacturers and suppliers. “It’s better for everyone if we can employ craftspeople and keep the trades going,” Lomas says. “We are keeping tradition alive as well.”
Clearly, closer to home means less CO2 emitted in travel and shipping as well. But specifying locally was of prime importance to this project in particular. And virtually everything has been made bespoke for the development.
Source of information: http://www.building.co.uk
Furthermore, Simpson’s Kengate works in Shepperton made the pre-cast terrazzo for the back staircases. “We are one of the few manufacturers who do this in the UK. We get by on smaller orders like this,” says Gill. “We can’t sustain the larger ones.” He doesn’t blame people who don’t go down the local path, though: “British craftsmanship is good but it tends to be a bit more expensive. An architect should not specify British if the quality is compromised and you don’t get value for money.
“But [if you go British] you can always go to a factory to meet with someone. If you go abroad you lose a bit of control and you put your trust in someone you can’t see.”
Control was even more important when Make came to design the chairs for the foyer. When it presented its first design to High Wycombe furniture maker, Davison Highley, it discovered it was for an impossible object. It wanted a tent chair but the manufacturer advised that it would have to be a timber-framed. So Make and Davison worked together in order to produce something that was equivalent to the original concept.
“If they had sent their drawings to the Far East, they would have got something that was reminiscent, but didn’t have the nuances of the detail that we were able to produce,” says sales director, Tim Armitt. Instead, Make, an hour’s train ride away, were able to meet regularly with the team through several different prototypes. And not just the designers.
“They met the cutter and upholsterer and the frame builders who were involved in making the special angles. They met with the seamstresses who had to make the long, pointed terminuses – it was a big team effort – they bought into that hands on approach. “We could all stand round the chair and say, ‘do this and do that,’” says Armitt. What’s more the job came in under budget. “People think that when you have a bespoke service from the UK, it will be ridiculous money,” Armitt says. “But we make new designs but we know they work because the components are things that we have tried and tested and they are price comparable. If you don’t reinvent the wheel you don’t break the bank.”
Working with British manufacturers allowed Make to create the triangular door handles and toilet roll holders (from architectural ironmonger, izé) and the accessible lifts (Elan, Dartford) with proper recessed handles rather than the ugly bars that Lomas detested. The kick plates on the doors are triangular (using less metal) as are the windows. As a result, they are friendlier looking than your average access point.
Furthermore, Simpson’s Kengate works in Shepperton made the pre-cast terrazzo for the back staircases. “We are one of the few manufacturers who do this in the UK. We get by on smaller orders like this,” says Gill. “We can’t sustain the larger ones.” He doesn’t blame people who don’t go down the local path, though: “British craftsmanship is good but it tends to be a bit more expensive. An architect should not specify British if the quality is compromised and you don’t get value for money.
“But [if you go British] you can always go to a factory to meet with someone. If you go abroad you lose a bit of control and you put your trust in someone you can’t see.”
Control was even more important when Make came to design the chairs for the foyer. When it presented its first design to High Wycombe furniture maker, Davison Highley, it discovered it was for an impossible object. It wanted a tent chair but the manufacturer advised that it would have to be a timber-framed. So Make and Davison worked together in order to produce something that was equivalent to the original concept.
“If they had sent their drawings to the Far East, they would have got something that was reminiscent, but didn’t have the nuances of the detail that we were able to produce,” says sales director, Tim Armitt. Instead, Make, an hour’s train ride away, were able to meet regularly with the team through several different prototypes. And not just the designers.
“They met the cutter and upholsterer and the frame builders who were involved in making the special angles. They met with the seamstresses who had to make the long, pointed terminuses – it was a big team effort – they bought into that hands on approach. “We could all stand round the chair and say, ‘do this and do that,’” says Armitt. What’s more the job came in under budget. “People think that when you have a bespoke service from the UK, it will be ridiculous money,” Armitt says. “But we make new designs but we know they work because the components are things that we have tried and tested and they are price comparable. If you don’t reinvent the wheel you don’t break the bank.”
Working with British manufacturers allowed Make to create the triangular door handles and toilet roll holders (from architectural ironmonger, izé) and the accessible lifts (Elan, Dartford) with proper recessed handles rather than the ugly bars that Lomas detested. The kick plates on the doors are triangular (using less metal) as are the windows. As a result, they are friendlier looking than your average access point.
Floor plans
So far, I've been able to get hold of two floor plans, and only these two are published on the internet because there are still offices available to let on these two floors.
Plan of the 8th floor
Plan of the 7th floor
Plans from http://www.55bakerstreet.eu/
Plan of the 8th floor
Plan of the 7th floor
Plans from http://www.55bakerstreet.eu/
Images of the exerior
Image taken from the atrium with the view on Baker Street.
The atrium area with a view on the entrance to the building.
The front façade taken from across the street.
Corner of the building, seen when coming from Baker Street Underground Station. This is the view of the offices part of the developement.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
History
The headquarters of M&S was for 100 years at Michael House, 55 Baker Street. During World War II these offices were used by the Special Operations Executive for secret missions in Occupied Europe. In 2004 the company moved to a new headquarters at Waterside House in the new Paddington Basin in London.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marks_&_Spencer
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The façade
The key feature of this building is the seven-storey atrium at the centre of the site.
This new public space measures 22m wide, 30m deep and 30m high and is enclosed by dynamic geometry. It enhances the visibility of the development along Baker Street.
This is an image of the façade taken from across the street.
This is an image of the section of the facade
Project partner Ian Lomas said the masks had been designed to enhance the view for pedestrians approaching the building from one side.
“We didn’t want a flat glass façade,” he said. “We wanted something that would change with the time of the day, so the whole building functions as an art work.”
Source: http://www.skyscrapercity.com
This is an image of the section of the facade
Project partner Ian Lomas said the masks had been designed to enhance the view for pedestrians approaching the building from one side.
“We didn’t want a flat glass façade,” he said. “We wanted something that would change with the time of the day, so the whole building functions as an art work.”
Source: http://www.skyscrapercity.com
Main information
55 Baker Street is a new landmark HQ developement designed by Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects. It is a renovation of the former M&S Headquarters in Baker Street. It is a striking architectural design. It includes restaurants and retail on a ground floor, gym on lower ground floor and roof terraces with panoramic views of central London.
Complete front elevation on the building, image taken by Zander Olsen of Make Architects.
The primary use of this building is for offices, secondary is retail. The building contains 500,000 sq ft of prime office space, 60,000 sq ft retail and leisure space and 25,000 sq ft residential space spread over the basement, ground floor and 8 floors above ground.
First sight of the 55 Baker Street building, coming from Baker Street underground station. I've circled the building I am going to research.
Complete front elevation on the building, image taken by Zander Olsen of Make Architects.
The primary use of this building is for offices, secondary is retail. The building contains 500,000 sq ft of prime office space, 60,000 sq ft retail and leisure space and 25,000 sq ft residential space spread over the basement, ground floor and 8 floors above ground.
First sight of the 55 Baker Street building, coming from Baker Street underground station. I've circled the building I am going to research.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Local Area
55 Baker Street benefits from excellent road, bus and rail (mainline and underground) links, with all the pleasures of Oxford Street and central London’s commercial and retail community being close by. The building is located 10 mins walk away from Baker Street Underground Station. Regent’s Park and Hyde Park are within easy walking distance and a variety of squares and green spaces.
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