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Firestone

A prominent super-prime industrial unit, required a high-quality, modern, and innovative response to a site with an iconic history as the former 1928 Art Deco Firestone Building.
Size
104,584 sqft
Location
London Borough of Hounslow
Status
Planning Approval
Contractor
Designers
Architect Chetwoods
Client
Legal & General
Photographer

The design took historic references and conserved some of the original features of the Art Deco history of the site, while addressing client and local authority aspiration for an intensification of development on the site.

The scheme also needed to meet the net zero carbon and sustainability requirements of Legal & General, the London Borough of Hounslow and the London Plan, targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, and aligning with the UK Green Building Council definition of Net Zero Carbon.

A single level industrial space has been designed to accommodate a range of warehouse, logistics or large studio uses, offering several units of varying sizes, as well as ancillary functions including office areas and support amenities. The main body of the building is approximately 18.55m high to the parapet, with the raised front office section set over the main arrival area and reaching 20m.

The design concept used architectural cues taken from the former Firestone Building and local precedents in the building design. It drew on the detail of key architectural features of the original building, including applying a grid based on the historic Art Deco façade to the new frontage behind the retained stepped entranceway to the development.

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impact

Project Highlights
  • Intensification of industrial uses
  • Provides flexible spaces
  • An Art Deco inspired distribution, logistics and warehouse scheme
  • High-quality and modern design responds to a site with an iconic history
  • Complex design development process for sensitive site
  • Low energy and sustainable, rated BREEAM Excellent

A comment on the project

"Our project team’s approach to this sensitive project required a high-quality, modern, fit-for-purpose response to a site with an iconic history as the former 1928 Art Deco Firestone Building. The design concept needed to retain historic references and conserve some of the original features."