buildings

Gasholders London : An Overview

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Commercial Architecture
Residential
Kings Cross, London
Argent LLP
Approx £128 million
n/a
Completed 2018

Carillion
WilkinsonEyre Architects

Jonathan Tuckey Design
No.12 Studio

Arup

Hoare Lea
Dan Pearson Studio
Speirs & Major
Gardiner & Theobald
Shepley Engineers

King’s Cross is the largest urban redevelopment scheme in Europe with the rich industrial heritage of the site being integral to its renaissance. Among the most distinctive and beautiful features to be retained is a conjoined triplet of Victorian gasholder guide frames, originally constructed in 1867. Now Grade II listed, they are the world’s only connected triplet to be refurbished into residential spaces.

WilkinsonEyre Architects won a design competition in 2002 with a concept for three residential buildings to be housed within the elegant cast iron frames. The concept proposed three drums of accommodation at differing heights to suggest the movement of the original gasholders, which would have risen up or down depending on the pressure of the gas within. A fourth, virtual drum shape, located at the centre of the frames, formed an open courtyard, celebrating the conglomeration of the cast iron structures at their point of intersection.

The concept has been developed to create a dynamic counterpoint between new and old. The heavy industrial aesthetic and raw physical materiality of the guide structures contrasts with the lightness and intricacy of the interior spaces, which draw inspiration from the delicate refinement of a traditional watch mechanism.

The scheme provides 145 apartments, a private gym and spa, a business lounge and an entertainment suite with screening room, bar reception area and private dining room.

Apartments are accessed through the central courtyard, each drum volume with its own atrium and core. These are linked by a series of circular walkways which surround the courtyard, where light is reflected in a central water feature, mirroring the guide frames intersection and dramatising the central space.

The exterior of the accommodation volumes are planned within each of the guide frames, expressed in a veil of metal and structural elements forming operable and static panels to control the environmental conditions inside. The dark steel cladding contrasts with elements of brass and bronze.

The circular nature of the buildings result in apartments that are laid out to take advantage of natural daylighting, with the living and bedrooms at the perimeter. The ‘pie’ shaped configuration of the grid forms open-plan apartments with expansive views and a variety of orientations.

Rooftop landscaping connects nature with the urban landscape.

Images + Photography
Peter Landers © | James Brittain © | WilkinsonEyre Architects © | CANN Design / Louise Cann ©

Studio founder, Louise, spent just under 5 years working as an Architect on Gasholders London from 2013 to its completion in early 2018 under the employment of Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

During her time on the project she predominantly worked across the residential amenity areas developing the basement, entrance lobby, atriums, courtyard, business suite, entertainment suite, screening room, spa, gym and roof gardens. She was also involved in the coordination of the residential apartment designs into construction alongside interior architects Jonathan Tuckey Design, the coordination of residential amenity styling by No.12 Studio and the projects marketing suite construction located along Goods Way in Kings Cross.

“ The studio posts celebrate the completion of Gasholders London for all of those involved and to share the dialogue of images I took during my time and journey through this unique project. ”
Louise Cann