This 3-storey building, located opposite Brixton tube station, was the site of the first British Home Store – a pioneering department store concept which became one of the leading retail brands in the UK.

​

Nestled in between two railway overpasses, which connect south London with London Victoria and other central London locations, the building featured a ground staircase at ground floor conveying opulence of its time.

​

Subsequently, the building has been occupied by different retailers and the building has become tired and in disrepair. Due to its location, we knew that any proposals would need to retain some element of retail space but we felt the upper floors, which are no longer needed for the retail offering, could be converted into a more relevant use.

​

The building sits on the corner between Brixton Road and Dorrell Place – the latter being a narrow side alley which acts a natural screening to the rear portion of the building. At the rear sits a bar/restaurant which sits outside the site.

​

Based on the sites location, the client wanted to investigate a Hotel use by retaining and extending the building. The design needed to be designed around a phased construction whereby the commercial ground and basement is retained and used during the works.

​

We devised a double floor system where the existing first floor was retained – with the new extended mass sitting on top. Hotels are repetitive in their nature, as the façade involves a series of openings repeating on a logical grid.

​

T2S decided that proportion and simplicity was the driver to establish and design a carefully crafted piece of Architecture. A considered grid, with deep openings, and crafted brick detailing was used to give the design elegance and weight.

​

The form was based upon two rows of rooms facing Dorrell Place and the railway track. This was expressed in the design to give the simple form expressive and articulation.