A better, brighter office space in a forgotten part of York’s medieval heart – that was the challenge set for us by insurance firm Hiscox. The Hungate was once a wool market, a place where people came together. We were asked to honour that heritage by creating a contemporary office space that would act as a focal point for the whole neighbourhood.
We started with Hiscox’s culture. It’s an open, welcoming place – a perfect fit for the Hungate’s history. Our design reinforces this sense of openness, maximising light across four spacious floors. A ribbon-like staircase, modelled on York’s undulating city walls, rises up through a triple-height atrium, culminating in a landscaped roof terrace that offers glorious views to York Minster.
The building’s facade is formed of curved glass and a woven brickwork pattern inspired by the 19th-century market. It overlooks a new public area that harmonises with the nearby listed landmarks and provides new pedestrianised routes connecting the Hungate to the city centre.
We’ve brought the Hungate’s past and future together, its rich heritage inspiring the most contemporary of designs. As a result, a neglected brownfield site is now a contemporary focal point.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=2197bdceca4427792e18dd960cf0bb41 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=6fb133cc7fb58d4efc0c42bd7b8eade2 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=8b3acd0dcc78ab5427dac3dba868246a 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=1ad7b2cd79b131faca25ff2386d0523c 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=563c5b32aafa15ef1bdc1fbd29751d74 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=cfabe1300e27dbb7dd02b033e1536413 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=146709131ef6d7200bde377df87a0e15 1920w)
The building is made from 5,000m3 of concrete – enough to fill two Olympic-sized pools – forming the piled foundations, superstructure, feature staircase, balustrades, escape stairs and brick-faced facade panels.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=315&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=da13b7325e7bb1e9a6f09a19d229e267 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=630&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=cb6b82bcf878cc7b4ab5edd8ce9caf97 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1152&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=de104184063439835b95512c24e65eac 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1536&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=dea5c5d0d95bb237d80c79aafb05769d 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2100&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=17cf66051930ec82e039c0acf871fc1d 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2400&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=6a59e94e580a1a979770ceff47e47c01 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FHarrods-breakout-area-scaled.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2879&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=6486c84ba0bb7994ce479fe6c6cc4ba5 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=309&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=d3966b4811803d45e1838ef78868df4a 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=617&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=3ceb4e2ba5521354426678e8d7e01b10 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1129&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=97ca374a9f244f9691327a637fd9f678 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1505&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=823414cd654cfc08e402e7c56911af2c 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2058&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=5c5a42c3efa20f9d5317859245cbc337 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2351&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=51f9c572e2a2417cb13f0ebe9c98d8e2 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-13.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2822&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=40b989209bdb4114bbe37d1a568a4228 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=164&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=26ef73a4a8cc28d5a07dc31526eafc23 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=327&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=132905dca23b0264df61ef17d8e5d67a 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=598&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=2893209a16ffcc5c3eb3421f0c5461b8 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=797&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=cb380cdcb5c37555e69190c680c8e9e5 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1090&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=2a1a51b0a2eb03616e754fb1006a19e0 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1246&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=39032d3b2ad9ae64106ed3ed83b262ca 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1495&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=ee600d32b9b592b6e41e29c939cba4d2 1920w)
Make created a space that taps into the long history of the Hungate site while using cutting-edge architectural, design and working practices.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=99b8eb0d062bfcfc5bd350ba9bf9fbf7 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=67497ca63ec90691c2270df5e42682d1 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=279caf4b5f6632b0e0b2e77ca9d1c198 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=8ecb9744f7f936f59620d605ac00256f 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=8dd1e73a1db2889fb88d017844f52afe 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=695865da38b8fa8323ada031d37b30ae 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=e00c8dd90fdc0a8a5387eca595df1f8b 1920w)
The third floor roof terrace provides access to green space, fresh air, sculpture and excellent views of the Minster to the north.
![](https://www.makearchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HiscoxBuilding_Make_drawing-2500x1766.png)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=196&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=d47443a092ea2162866f3afa401787d5 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=391&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=7ceeaea1635b7a5f77dd4324be110668 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=715&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=ec1112baf07ec991b92b448fab961bd5 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=954&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=2638c02b2c501d6977614c7ec90acb0d 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1304&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=8ae43647f3ba7f80fc239e6072c016eb 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1490&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=61218ea06ab4010f06edce7ad921dfc8 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-12.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1788&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=7e9cd2525414c4af0f811f0ba71e4744 1920w)
Integrating works from the Hiscox art collection into the design was central to the brief. The pieces seek to provoke and inspire, increase productivity, and engender a sense of pride among employees.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=2740fb8b502d902ce796574a6c026afb 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=60ff3bef1c67223401511fdef6320455 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=4c838906b77a1537664a5e7b32c1973c 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=a6a6ebecf1dd7e27cdcc368c49b03ac9 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=3304296b38f98944c753c053a7a9ab09 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=25844eea0333bdccebc36802b2941e3b 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=c48e2a5ab14382b6fe593539ca869453 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=fbf50f24ddbd8c9d777418c4f6945731 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=c38745b02deaa79e5873a26bb5d5df16 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=2a326ee2256a5f6ce0678ddcf5765fbe 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=98c7aa85b9f4902506d8dc52705f0607 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=934&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=bb7250935d092b6d76cb3754fb686201 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=ad1e32081b1c99e55d7e76caf27aae1c 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FHiscoxBuilding_Make-30.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=e32582a09449f409d28224f311f15119 1920w)
An undulating 'woven' brickwork facade, inspired by the former wool market, wraps around the gently rippling south and west-facing elevations. The north-east frontage comprises a stunning curved glass facade that overlooks new public space and forms a vibrant, open street frontage.