Dinwiddie MacLaren

Broomwood Hall School, Clapham, London SW12 This project involved the extension and refurbishment of a Grade II Listed Building to provide a flexible performance and assembly space for an independent preparatory school. 74 Nightingale Lane was constructed as a private house in 1872 in the Italian gothic style. Subsequent alterations destroyed the original proportions, but the striking six-storey ‘campanile’ survived. The Practice was appointed to create a large theatre and assembly space by constructing a gridshell structured timber roof at second floor level, which is barely visible from street level. The new structure is exposed internally to provide a stunning column-free performance space.

St James’s Street, Mayfair, London SW1 This Edwardian apartment building was designed in the French Renaissance style and built in 1909, and consists of 26 apartments. In 1935, Prunier opened their London restaurant on the ground floor, which is now Luciano Restaurant. The project comprised the refurbishment of the entrance and common parts together with the installation of a new passenger lift. The building remained occupied throughout. The project provided an opportunity to remove a legacy of unsatisfactory historical alterations, and restore the entrance lobby and common parts to create a consistently high-quality interior with a fresh modern feel. The new passenger lift was designed within a very restricted space. The shaft is enclosed in bronze with glass sides to recall the sense of movement of the original lift.

Edwardes Square, Kensington, London W8 Our Client purchased this property with the intention of creating three separate suites of rooms and a large conservatory/living space for entertaining. The property was completely refurbished with a large extension designed and built to the rear. A classical theme was adopted, respecting the original period of the house, but contrasted with contemporary designs for the kitchens, balustrading, artwork and furnishings.

The Lime Tree Building, Hornsby House School, Balham, London SW12 The building occupies an awkwardly shaped corner site previously used for temporary accommodation. In order to minimise the bulk of the new building in this mainly residential area, the lower floor is constructed below the playground, thus ensuring that only the roof projects above the new boundary wall. The need to retain a Lime protected by a TPO and the close proximity of the existing Lower School building added to the complexity of both the design and the construction process. The design is conceived as a simple L-shaped building at ground floor level, with the stainless steel roof articulated above the brick boundary wall by a separating band of frameless glass. The L-shape creates an inner garden beside the Lime. The ground floor provides three classrooms and a small office. Below ground level, the building extends far out below the playground to provide a large dining and flexible performance space, together with a full commercial kitchen.

Chubb Insurance, Fenchurch Street, London EC3M This project involved re-fitting three floors of a Victorian office building in the City for a leading insurance company’s UK Head Office. The complex plan was rationalised to promote excellent communication between departments. New facilities included a private dining suite with commercial kitchen, disaster recovery suite, staff rest areas, entrance lobbies, meeting rooms, and cellular & open-plan offices. The Practice was appointed to provide all services, including new and bespoke furniture, mechanical & electrical consultancy services, cost control and project management. The project was completed on time, in just 17 weeks from appointment.

The Triangle, Hammersmith, London W6 These buildings, situated in a prime location in Hammersmith, were originally constructed in the late 1950s and are typical of this type, with minimal thermal performance and steel windows. Two of the group of three buildings were fully refurbished, with the works including an additional floor, new panoramic lifts, complete window and cladding replacement and a complete interior Category A fit-out of all seven floors; overall approximately 4,500sqm of space was created. Further works included the landscaping, car park and site enclosure design. The project was designed in association with Robert Paterson and completed in two phases with a possible further building (Britannia House) to be added at a later stage.