Proposed east elevation compromising reclaimed Portland stone cladding and granite plinths. Courtesy of GPE, render by The Boundary.
Our design proposes a modern interpretation of the architectural styles popular in the surrounding St James’s Conservation Area. The building also nods to the past by repurposing several elements salvaged from the previous structure on site. High-quality reclaimed materials such as Portland stone and granite panels are visible externally to people walking past, and in internal spaces for the benefit of building users.
This material re-use allows the architecture to engage with people’s emotional response to the built environment. We create strong bonds with buildings because of the sense of place they create and the layers of history, memories and social heritage they embody. Our team was fortunate to have a multitude of high-quality materials and building elements available for reclamation and re-use, including marble-lined interiors designed by Charlotte Perriand and facade elements designed by Erno Goldfinger, both of which have been saved.
Proposed office reception including reclaimed marble wall finishes. Courtesy of GPE, render by The Boundary.
The pre-demolition survey and audit process was inherently a creative one that explored how best to reuse as much material as possible and enabled uncovered elements to inform our proposed design. As a result, we’ve been able to create a unique architectural response that carries a distinct richness and sense of familiarity.
The audit also uncovered building elements not initially earmarked for re-use in the proposed scheme. However, steadfast in our commitment to diverting materials away from landfill and promoting circular economy opportunities wherever they appeared, the project team worked with creative organisations and second-hand marketplaces to find new homes for unassigned, salvaged materials during the soft strip phase.
Notable examples include the ‘Tip Takes’ installation by Studio Tip and works by artist Matthew Small, both of whom have used salvaged materials from the 30 Duke Street St James’s site in new artworks and installations. As part of a temporary installation, Studio Tip encouraged visitors to take away elements, giving yet another life to these materials.
To our knowledge, the proposed scheme is the UK’s largest commercial office steel re-use project under construction. Over 78% of the structural frame is constructed from reclaimed steel, of which two-thirds is sourced from a London-based donor building in client GPE’s portfolio. This is equivalent to 440 tonnes of steelwork, saving nearly 744tCO₂e when compared to using equivalent new steel.
The inclusion of reused large steel beams has facilitated column-free office floorplates throughout the building without compromising its ambitious embodied carbon requirements. This in turn has helped provide unobstructed views of nearby London landmarks and allowing natural light to flood the space. It’s rare to find floorplates that offer customers so much flexibility when fitting out their demise, particularly in central London.
Proposed column-free office floorplates with views across London skyline. Courtesy of GPE, render by The Boundary.
The upfront embodied carbon target (including demolition) of 572kgCO₂/m2GIA sits within a larger suite of sustainability goals. 30 Duke Street St James’s aims to achieve best-in-class credentials, including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’, WELL Platinum enabled and NABERS UK 5-Star certifications.
In a truly circular economy, this won’t be the last building ‘in the chain’. Just as we were fortunate to receive steelwork from a donor building, the structural design of 30 Duke Street St James’s makes use of bolted connections to facilitate disassembly at the end of the building’s life. Our ambition, for now and into the future, is to establish the scheme as one synonymous with responsible environmental stewardship through innovative architectural design.
Part 2 of this circular design series explores the reclamation and refurbishment process and the proposed re-use of individual materials.
