UK-based real estate development and investment firm, Metaform has secured planning permission for a 50,000 sq. ft office redevelopment for the creative industries in the heart of Chelsea. The new development, 79-89 Lots Road, is owned by Riyadh-based diversified conglomerate, Naif Alrajhi Investment.
Not only will the redevelopment provide flexible workspace intended to appeal to small to medium-sized creative businesses and start-ups, it is also expected to create up to 300 new jobs bringing both economic and social benefits to the neighbourhood.
Naif Saleh Alrajhi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Naif Alrajhi Investment, comments, “This is a creative and purposeful development for London’s entrepreneurial community with an innovative architecture and design at its core. It represents a signature project within our international portfolio, and an exciting addition to both our London office and our growing presence in Europe.”
Mazen El Khatib, CEO of Metaform, comments, “On our first visit to 79-89 Lots Road, we could immediately see the great potential locked within this site. There’s an ongoing demand for office space in this part of Chelsea amongst the creative industries, and we knew, with the right design input, we could transform this site and deliver something high-quality and design-led to the area, to meet this demand.”
He adds, “Putting together a team of expert consultants and securing the planning permission for this site within a short period of time has been a proud achievement for Metaform. We see this project as an exciting point of entry to the Central London property market.”
Led by Lebanon and Spain-based practice Nabil Gholam Architects, the proposed design will be a part redevelopment and part extension of a disused Victorian metal instruments factory, featuring an eight-storey addition with a distinctive weathering steel louvered façade. The design respects the site’s industrial past whilst progressively responding to its locale within the Chelsea design district.
Nabil Gholam Architects’ design for 79-89 Lots Road retains and refurbishes the northern part of the five-storey brick building, which has a refined architectural quality in terms of both façade composition and interior spatial layout. This existing element will be extended by two storeys. These are carefully recessed and sculpted to sit comfortably with the original building.
The southern part of the factory was considered of limited architectural merit and unsuitable for contemporary office needs due to inadequate spatial capacity and restricted step-free access. This part will instead be replaced by an elegant, new build extension with a folded façade that enhances the visitor approach to the main entrance. The original and new elements will be linked by a glass atrium.
Both the new southern block and the northern roof extension will feature distinctive weathering steel vertical louvers over aluminium-framed glazing to control solar glare. The steel, which references the site’s origins as a metal factory, was chosen for both its contemporary nature and its ability to blend in harmoniously with the brick of the original building. Louvers will be carefully angled to minimise overlooking and protect the privacy of adjacent neighbouring properties.
The new build also features a series of green terraces and roofs as well as a café fronted by a welcoming courtyard.
79-89 Lots Road has been designed to meet BREEAM Very Good standards.