Crawford Street Studios

Originally a car showroom, the 370sqm ground and lower ground floors of a 1960's corner building near Baker Street have been comprehensively re-organized and re-fitted by Priestman Architects for an expanding product design company.
To better locate the main entrance and link it to a double height rear stair void, optimise daylight, and provide more easily connected upper and lower level work space, a section of the concrete floor slab was removed and a new stair inserted.
This leaves a narrow section of floor slab overlooking the stair voids, presented as a bridge within the deep, tall volume. The bridge serves as casual meeting space. This arrangement leaves workspaces otherwise concealed, for client confidentiality, behind obscure-glazed screens and doors. Having private workspace so close to the public pavement outside, resolved through glazing again, creates an interesting ambivalence: views out are through clear glazed clerestory lights above the original showroom doors.
Economic finishes; painted softwood screens and doors, painted plaster, Tretford carpet tiles, and folded mild steel treads to the painted MDF stairs, are used to good affect.
Total costs including structural work, stairs, glazed doors and screens, building services including air conditioning, data and basic lighting, fitted desks and finishes, were £440/sqm.