Standing out in London is not easy, especially if you are located in the shadow of the City’s futuristic skyscrapers. However, the creative minds at Bogle Architects, one of the youngest and most interesting studios in Europe, did just that with their reinvention of the entrance to 140 Fenchurch Street thanks to the workmanship of Marzorati Ronchetti, leading Italian manufacturers of specialist metalwork.
The building’s entrance located a short distance from the Tower of London on a secondary street, required an eye-catching re-design solution. A solution that would shine and glitter like a jewel but be sophisticated, elegant and daring at the same time.
This project’s signature element is the dramatic, multi-faceted feature wall. The refined geometry of the new wall is achieved using interlinked highly polished stainless steel convex panels, extending from the lobby interior through the glazed facade to wrap around the building’s street façade.
Polona Pirnat, Project Architect at Bogle Architects, explains how the idea behind the multi-faceted wall was born:
“We chose steel for the external wall and reception area, as it is a durable and versatile material that lends itself to a variety of finishes, choosing a multi-faceted surface and texture that would reflect and diffuse light, bringing a sense of dynamism to the new entrance.
Originally, we thought of using cast aluminium, but after consulting with Marzorati Ronchetti, we decided on stainless steel – a material that lends itself to more refined finishes. To ensure the highest quality of finish, the installation was pre-fabricated in a workshop and then assembled on site.”
The wall’s finely detailed design was custom made by Marzorati Ronchetti, whose international portfolio includes Louis Vuitton’s Milan showroom, the lobby area for 30 St Mary Axe in London and a spectacular exhibition installation at MoMA in New York.
The coherence of the design is further enhanced by a new floating canopy and the introduction of a large, acid-etched steel reception desk.
Stefano Ronchetti of Marzorati Ronchetti explains:
“We are often called to create designs that are halfway between architecture and art. In this case, the complex multi-faceted stainless steel matrix is an eye-catching feature with a glittering yet prized image. The steel is augmented by feature lighting along the ceiling that extends outside, adding character to the entry canopy.
The reception desk was also specially designed. The mirror polished top reflects the light tones of the surrounding space. However, it is the dark tones of the slightly concave, acid-etched steel facing that makes the desk stand out, transforming it into a sort of monolith of prized tactile qualities.”
The building has undergone an extensive refurbishment with a remodelled entrance, refurbished reception and passenger lifts. There are also three floors of comprehensively refurbished Grade A offices, available from Q2 2016. Joint agents are JLL and Newton Perkins.
