Building design

The development is based on the concept of a ‘floating’ office box set in a green landscaped clearing, and is centred round a private courtyard which provides a focus for the whole building. The tenant required a design that both enhances their public profile from the street, while also preserving their privacy in what, architecturally, is otherwise a very traditional street in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston. Attention has been paid to creating a comfortable environment with an emphasis on quality and discipline rather than opulence.

The brief has demanded that the building be BCO 2005 compliant; have the capacity to cater for multiple tenancies; create 10 to 12,000 sq ft of office floor space over 2 levels; provide adequate car parking provision and utilise mixed-mode ventilation.

The building has been designed to offer a confident expression of individuality and a modern identity whilst being sensitive and responsive to its Conservation Area context. This approach is encouraged in the CABE/English Heritage publication ‘Building in Context’. The design also addresses key Birmingham City Council ‘Places For All’ SPG policies of building on local character, clearly defining and reinforcing public and private spaces, and considering environmental and sustainability issues.