Description
Technique is an elegant but hugely inventive amalgamation, expansion and reconfiguration of a decommissioned bank and gin distillery, providing the site with new purpose.

The original buildings, though handsomely of their place, were a tricky base material for a bright new hub for creative business. But General Projects was set against the waste of energy and resources involved in tearing them down. It also presented an opportunity, through the smartest architecture, elegant and ingenious additions and reconfiguration, to create something remarkable.

74,000 sq ft landmark new office space development, conjured and crafted from two historic buildings in the heart of Clerkenwell. Radical in design and use of materials, it sets a new benchmark for sustainable, adaptive re-use and the development of thoughtful, human-centric office space. It is rooted in a sense of responsibility to the local environment and respect for the people who work there.

Set across six storeys of high-ceilings and generous open volumes washed with superb natural light, Technique is richly textured at every turn. The architects, BuckleyGrayYeoman, have boldly re-configured and re-invigorated the existing buildings, adding new layers, together with a remarkable new entrance lobby and private gallery, all topped with 10,000 sq ft of green roof. Technique is a truly future-facing development, designed to serve, support and inspire.

Location
Ideally nestled between the West End, the City, King’s Cross and Old Street, Clerkenwell has for centuries been one of London’s most vital and creative neighbourhoods. It has been the place for coffee shop intrigue and manufacturing innovation, craftsmanship and carousing, radical ideas and groundbreaking architecture. And still is.

It is home to Clerkenwell Green and Charterhouse Square, to the Barbican, St.John’s restaurant, Compton Restaurant, and Whitecross Street Market. It is a hub for tech and media companies, creative studios, architectural practices and design stores.

It is now being transformed as new towers rise along City Road, the influence of Silicon Roundabout spreads and the redevelopment of Smithfield Market is on the way.

Technique will become a touchstone for the area’s development – respecting its past and enhancing its future.

Specifications
BuckleyGrayYeoman set about devising a new internal flow and logic for the amalgamated buildings, starting with a ground level infill. This new addition is at once grand entrance, lobby and the focal point of a new community.

And its focus will be a Formafantasma-designed drinking water fountain, encouraging connection while discouraging single use plastic. The new infill also includes a new first floor private gallery boasting 7m high ceilings. A large skylight will create a dramatic shard of natural light making the space perfect for everything from exhibitions and events to yoga classes.

Sustainability is a priority in the construction, and on-going life, of Technique. Three entirely new floors are being built using superperforming glue and cross laminated timber structural components, sourced from sustainably managed forests, rather than concrete and steel and resulting in a 43% reduction in carbon emissions.

Structural elements of the CLT addition are being prefabricated off site and assembled on site, cutting site traffic by 70%. Technique will be topped with 10,000 sq ft of green roof, increasing local biodiversity and reducing the heat island effect. All of which means that the building is set to achieve
a BREEAM Excellent sustainability rating, a rare achievement for a refurbished building.