22 Handyside Street
by Coffey Architects
Client Argent
Award RIBA London Award 2024
Sitting over Grade II listed railway tunnels near King’s Cross Station in London, this three-storey commercial office building imaginatively exploits its technical constraints to achieve a deceptive elegance, both externally and internally. Solar orientation, site perimeter, and an overriding need to minimise building weight due to those tunnels led the architects to a wealth of clever decisions regarding the project’s structure, form, and materials.
Using a diagonal grid optimised the lightweight concrete and steel structure, whilst improving orientation both for views and heat gain. It also enabled the creation of a sawtooth roofline which not only references the industrial context of King’s Cross, but also creates a natural landmark on this corner site. The façades deploy embossed and intricately perforated aluminium panels over a variety of transparent, translucent and solid curtain walls, providing a fascinating interplay of dappled light over the façade and within.
Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.
Contractor BAM
Structural Engineer Arup
Environmental/M&E Engineer E3
Facade Consultant FMDC
Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Faithful and Gould
Environmental/M&E Engineer Sweco
Workplace Consultant KKS
Landscape Architect Townshend Landscape Architects
Fire Consultant Fire Surgery
Acoustic Engineer Ion Acoustics
Delivery Architect Stride Treglown
Gross internal area 4574 m²
