The Yellow Building is an environmentally smart, thermally massive, structurally light building that suggests the office of the future can be as delightful to work in as the factories of the past are to re-inhabit. A seven-storey, yellow-striped volume crowned in a saw-tooth roof stands as a landmark on London’s West Cross Route. 

A muscular, diagonal concrete grid wraps around the building to define the architecture – both outside and in – and provide structural rigidity without the need for supporting cores. Internally, the concrete lattice lines the full-height atrium which links all levels of the 161,500 square foot building and acts as part art gallery, part social space and part event space. 

To maximise connections between staff, the large open, unobstructed floors span either side of the central atrium, which both allows light to penetrate deep into the building and holds the main circulation stair that takes inhabitants on a promenade of their organisation. In stripping away the detritus of detailing that defines so much commercial space, the project demonstrates better ways to work and play and speculate (both financially and architecturally).

Awards
  • 2009 RIBA Award for Architecture
  • 2009 British Construction Industry Award - Building Award
  • 2009 Lighting Design Award - Workspace Lighting - Highly Commended
  • 2008 MIPIM Best Mixed Use Award - Commended
  • 2008 World Architecture Festival - Highly Commended
2008
Location
Kensington and Chelsea, London
Cost
£32 million
Client
Nottingdale Ltd & Monsoon Accessorize
Architects
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Main Contractor
Laing O’Rourke
Structural Engineers
Adams Kara Taylor
Project Managers & Cost Consultants
Jackson Coles
Planning Consultant
London Planning Practice
Service Engineers
Norman Disney & Young
Landscape Architects
muf architecture/art
Graphic Designers
Atelier Works
 
Related

The George Building tops out 01.03.18

Allford
Hall
Monaghan
Morris