Fora Princelet Street, Shoreditch Building, London Workspace, Architecture Images
Fora Workspace, Princelet Street, Shoreditch
Workspace Project in East London, England – design by Piercy&Company Architects
14 Sep 2019
Fora 42-46 Princelet Street, Shoreditch
Design: Piercy&Company, Architects
Location: 42-46 Princelet Street, Shoreditch, East London, England, UK
Piercy&Company completes Fora’s eighth flexible workspace at 42-46 Princelet Street, drawing inspiration from the rich heritage of Brick Lane and showcasing the best of British Craft.
Fora and Piercy&Company transform Victorian warehouse into contemporary, creative shared workspace off Brick Lane.
Premium workspace provider Fora has completed its latest project in a former Victorian warehouse on Princelet Street in Shoreditch. Designed in collaboration with architect Piercy&Company, the space now provides 23,000 sq ft of purpose-built co-working and flexible workspace across five floors.
Designed to reflect the unique character of Brick Lane, the space is layered with terraces offering views of the surrounding area, alongside a Residents’ lounge, kitchens and a contemporary event space.
Founded by The Big Chill festival co-founder Katrina Larkin and hospitality-entrepreneur Enrico Sanna, Fora’s aim is to create spaces which improve productivity and well-being by focussing on exceptional quality and above all else, the Resident experience. Fora is leading the workspace revolution by bringing together the best of hospitality, members club-style services, high-end design and innovative technology. The design of its Princelet Street location is akin to a boutique hotel where every item the discerning Residents will touch, sit on and use has been carefully considered.
The former Victorian factory, which was constructed in the mid 1800’s and sits in the Fournier Street Conservation Area, has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment including clever internal reconfiguration to enhance the quality of the building. The space now features high levels of natural light and a focus on bespoke detailing. Fora and Piercy&Company have worked alongside a team of British makers including Realm Joinery and Darwen Terracotta to create a contemporary space with wonderfully tactile, handcrafted interiors throughout.
Rather than adding lifts or looking to increase floor space, Piercy&Company boldly cut a void through the building for a sculptural suspended staircase constructed in a folded origami-like structure. The oxide red feature staircase has created a dynamic central space that maximises natural light and connectivity between floors. A lofty two-storey roof extension with added terraces has also been introduced, providing a voluminous light-filled space for Residents to socialise both inside and out. On the ground floor, a stepped terrazzo lined event space has been introduced in the lobby which is visible on entrance from the street.
The rich heritage of the surrounding area includes a history of textiles manufacturing with Princelet Street once the home to a community of French silk weavers’ houses. Engaging with the inherent character and unique heritage of the area, a pleated roof space featuring north light glazing recalls the weaving lofts once common in the area.
Bespoke furniture created by Piercy&Company sits throughout the space, including felt pleated wall panelling designed to provide acoustic absorption, and curved seating areas and booths that appear to be carved into the wall, designed to maximise light, space and material aesthetic.
Pete Jennings, Director at Piercy&Company, said;
“As a practice, craft is at our heart. In a crowded market, it’s the attention to detail and quality that will stand the test of time and create co-working spaces where people want to linger, to share ideas, and flourish – the finished space is a place where you want to spend time. Brick Lane has a fascinating history and our approach has allowed us to create a co- workspace that preserves the historical heritage of the area but allows a bold look to the future for a growing and discerning business community.”
Katrina Larkin, Co-Founder of Fora, commented:
“We are excited to launch our eighth Fora space and our first in Shoreditch – one of London’s leading creative districts. The refurbishments of Princelet Street presented a fantastic opportunity to restore a historic building and transform it into a contemporary workspace in keeping with the diversity of the local area. Princelet Street delivers everything our Residents are looking for in a characterful, modern and motivational workspace.”
To date, Fora has curated seven other flexible workspaces in locations including Clerkenwell, Borough, Reading, Fitzrovia, Soho and nearby Spitalfields and is continuously seeking new development opportunities throughout London.
Fora 42-46 Princelet Street, Shoreditch, London images / information received 130919
Location: Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom
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