Located at the corner of Finsbury Square, East London, the 26 Finsbury Square (formerly Finwell House) is a 1950s building, which was modified during the 1980s. The internal redevelopment of the building includes large scale art work, designed by artist David Tremlett, which covers the walls of the reception area, providing a colourful environment for visitors.
To rebuild a slightly larger footprint, the 1980s front section of the building was demolished, which added 20% additional floor space to the building. A new Portland stone and glass façade was created to complement the scale and design of the new and old buildings in the vicinity. The lower two levels of glazing were set back, forming a colonnade and adding richness to the experience of the building at street level.
Rebuilt with extra ceiling height, the office floors at the 8th and 9th level were designed as well ventilated and well lighted work places. Apart from that a light-well has been incorporated at ground floor level to increase light for the lower ground floor office space.
The four facades have been clad in Portland Stone and clear glazing, which creates an elegant and modern addition to Finsbury Square and enabling a view into the double height reception hall from the square. A basement to the rear of the building now houses the renewable energy resources, which also provides bicycle spaces and associated showers.
Adopting the Mayor’s Energy Hierarchy, the redevelopment has also incorporated various sustainable design elements like heat recovery system, solar control glass and a variable volume pumping system. Providing 20% of its energy demands from renewable sources, the building has achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.
