22 HANDYSIDE STREET

50,000 sqft new build BREEAM Outstanding office on the King’s Cross Estate; a striking form with careful consideration of tenant wellbeing designed carefully above three Grade II Listed tunnels

FOR ARGENT

This project is an exploration of crafting a distinctive commercial building that prioritises the well-being of its occupants, earning it a prestigious BREEAM Outstanding certification. Our approach has been holistic, delving into how the architecture's mass and skin interact to generate captivating interplays of shadow and light. These dynamic elements not only enhance the aesthetics but also profoundly impact and engage the building's users, leading to an improvement in their daily lives and overall experience within the space.

Modern building with zigzag roofline, white perforated facade, and large glass windows, city street scene at dusk with pedestrians and neighboring buildings.

SUN, SITE & STRUCTURE

The building's form takes into account three crucial factors: the sun's position, the site perimeter, and the site's structural grid.

As a result of sharing space with the Grade II-listed mainline and underground railway tunnels, like its neighboring building, the King's Cross Sports Hall, 22 Handyside Street required a super lightweight design.

In response to these challenges, we ingeniously shifted the three-storey building diagonally. This clever adjustment not only achieved a balanced weight distribution but also optimized the orientation for heat gain, directional flow, and outward views. The thoughtfully composed design creates impressive civic elevations facing York Way and Handyside Street, seamlessly crafting an expressive corner where the two streets intersect.

Diagram of a tunnel ventilation system showing three tunnel types: Western, Central, and Eastern Gaswork Tunnels, with airflow directions indicated by arrows.
A modern building with a distinctive zigzag roofline, illuminated from within, situated on an urban street at dusk.

LIGHT & LIGHTWEIGHT

22 Handyside Street is constructed using lightweight concrete and steel, featuring a façade adorned with glazed curtain walling and embossed, perforated anodized aluminum panels. The silver elements bring vibrancy to the building's interior and exterior, elegantly mirroring the trees of Handyside Gardens and lending depth to the elevation. Along the main east/west axis of Handyside Street, the design cleverly creates delicate interplays of light, casting beautiful filigree patterns during sunrise and sunset, enhancing the building's allure and connection with its surroundings.

Modern building with a unique zigzag roofline and large glass windows, surrounded by trees and sidewalk with pedestrians.
Modern black staircase in a bright building with large glass windows and minimalistic decor, featuring two people walking, one on the staircase and one near the elevator.
Interior view of a modern building ceiling with a square skylight, a hanging linear light, and sleek dark and white walls.

Illuminated by a triangular rooflight, the sculptural central stair gracefully links the three distinct levels of the building. Clad in black Valchromat, the stair's material possesses light-absorbing properties, offering a striking contrast and a sense of compression for users as they ascend. This unique design choice creates a captivating transition before entering the expansive and well-lit spaces beyond, providing a delightful journey through the building's interior.

A woman in a white dress walking up a modern staircase with black walls and railings, near a large window in a contemporary building.
Empty, modern indoor space with white structural columns, large windows, and a decorative partition, illuminated by natural light.
Empty modern interior space with large windows, high ceiling, and tiled floor.

A MOVING WALLPAPER

Concealed behind the intricately patterned façade, the interior spaces of the building are beautifully bathed in dappled natural light, promoting a heightened sense of well-being for its occupants. The CNC cut panels are cleverly crafted with a sandwiched design, featuring solid, transparent, or translucent skins. As a result, they serve distinct purposes – filtering light and shadows, casting fascinating patterns on the floor, and remarkably, projecting shadows onto the opaque vertical glass. These creative endeavors combine to produce an enchanting and ever-changing "moving wallpaper" of light, adding a touch of magic and enhancing the overall ambiance of the interior spaces.

Two people standing near a glass door in a modern building with patterned shadows cast by architectural features outside.
Modern interior space with white walls, high ceiling, suspended linear lights, white structural columns, and glass partitions.
Empty modern interior space with large windows, white walls, high vaulted ceiling, and shiny marble floors.
Modern building with geometric metal facade and large windows, illuminated from inside, against a clear sky.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Acknowledging the sun's movement not only enhances our health and concentration but also re-establishes our connection to our natural circadian rhythms. By designing a workspace that promotes productivity and is architecturally expressive to the city, we aim to foster a deeper connection between users and their environment. Our exploration centers around the manipulation of light, ensuring that occupants experience a visceral connection to the surroundings, enriching their experience and overall well-being within the building.

Sunlight shining through a geometric patterned wall or screen, casting patterned shadows.

“Many of us have been up to see the building early in the morning to watch the autumn sunrise reflecting in the façade – it’s one of those truly magical moments and the concept has been absolutely nailed.”

– Will Colthorpe, Partner, Argent LLP

A modern architectural model of a multi-story building with a unique zigzag roof, transparent walls, and a decorative exterior pattern, placed on a white surface against a plain background.
Nine white 3D wall art pieces with striped patterns, arranged in a 3x3 grid on a light gray wall.

EXPLORATIONS

A variety of different models and prototypes, in varied materials and masses, were made to test the design possibilities.

Wireframe architectural model of a vertical structure with multiple panels and two small human figures for scale, viewed from below against a gray background.
Group of people in safety vests examining and discussing a modern, architectural metal structure outdoors.
Diagram illustrating the process of image transformation, including original image, pattern overlay, and resulting pattern.

PERCOLATION

The incorporation of perforated panels not only adds depth to the building's elevation but also serves multiple functions. These panels provide effective shading, helping to regulate the interior temperature, while allowing captivating dappled light to filter into the building. Our exploration extends to the patterns of shadows that the panels will cast throughout the changing seasons - from summer to equinox and winter. By studying these dynamic patterns, we ensure a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, optimizing the building's design for both visual appeal and energy efficiency throughout the year.

A man in a black suit stands indoors, facing a large window with patterned frosted glass, revealing a cityscape outside.
Modern building with a glass facade and decorative white panels, trees and shrubs in front, and a person walking by.
Modern multi-story buildings with illuminated windows, featuring a mix of glass and patterned exterior panels, during early evening.
Modern white building with glass windows and a zigzag roof design, situated at an intersection in a city with pedestrians, traffic light, and nearby high-rise buildings.
Modern office lobby with black walls and staircase, white steps, a glass vase with white flowers on the black reception desk, and a digital artwork on the wall. An employee is partially visible at the reception desk, and a woman in black walking into a door.
Modern building entrance with decorative metal panels featuring geometric cutouts, glass windows, and a person walking towards the door.

LOCATION

Kings Cross, London

SIZE

50,000 sqft

STATUS

Completed in 2020

CLIENT

Argent

AWARDS

/ Façade Awards 2022 – shortlisted
/ Camden Design Award 2022 – shortlisted
/ AJ Awards, Workplace (up to 10,000m2) – shortlisted
/ NLA Awards, Working Project Award – shortlisted
/ NLA Awards, Environmental Prize – shortlisted
/ Surface Design Awards, Commercial Building Exterior – shortlisted
/ Schuco Excellence Award, Commercial Building – won