One Vince Street, OLD STREET

Over the past half century Shoreditch has awoken from a semi-derelict ‘side-district’ to a global centre of technological creativity. Between Old Street Station and Shoreditch stands a strip ‘in between’, neither historic nor modern. Having been rebuilt in the post war-years with a functional architectural form, its short lifespan is nearing its end. The junction of Vince Street and Old Street presents a confined opportunity to weave this section of the urban fabric back together. 

The design notes the historic form and proportions, as well as the emerging skyline. A strong sense of verticality is taken from historic Shoreditch and Clerkenwell; established through tall brick piers and recessed openings with slender horizontal bands of cills and lintels creating a composition of minor and major elements. 

Beneath these primary elements, a subtly angled façade extends views to the buildings flanks; to the base a setback allows ease of public access whilst signalling to the stepped back fire station adjacent. At the height of the building the change in façade direction leans back toward the emerging skyline along City Road. Together these two slight but decisive forms reduce the mass, allowing integration into the surroundings to form a building which stands as part of, rather than in front of, a changing cityscape.