From street level, Squire and Partners' remodelling of this mid-rise office building on Warwick Street in London doesn't look like anything at all. However, the Soho building's redesign is actually aggressively modern from the interior, showing that the architecture firm knows how to balance the sensibilities of the exterior with contemporary design tenets in the areas that the building's occupants will most appreciate.
The exterior of the building isn't for lack of personality, even if it isn't as modern as the interior. It has a series of turquoise brick columns that give it character without making it stand out as arrogantly as other buildings might. However, Squire and Partners still gave the exterior that modern flair on the top floors, with crystalline shapes at the very top. Since those aren't visible for the ground, though, the building maintains its dignified appearance.
Deceptively Modern Mid-Rise Offices
Squire and Partners' Remodelling has Hidden Modernism
Trend Themes
1. Aggressively Modern Design - Architecture firms are incorporating a contemporary design in the interior of buildings, while maintaining the exterior's original character.
2. Hidden Modernism - Designers are creating hidden modern elements in buildings to balance contemporary design with the sensibilities of the exterior.
3. Invisible Modern Flair - Architecture firms are adding modern design elements at the top of buildings that are not visible from the ground, preserving the building's dignified appearance.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architecture firms can explore new ways to balance the sensibilities of the exterior with contemporary design in their building projects.
2. Real Estate - Real estate professionals can market properties that have hidden modern elements while maintaining a classic exterior to appeal to modern consumers.
3. Construction - Construction companies can focus on incorporating invisible modern design elements at the top of buildings to enhance the appeal of a property while maintaining an elegant exterior.