Heatherwick Studio London Office Renovation in King’s Cross

UK-based Heatherwick Studio London Office has transformed a 1950s industrial building in London’s King’s Cross into its new studio, creating a vibrant, collaborative workspace that fosters community and creativity. Located just a short walk from their previous office, the redesign brings all Heatherwick Studio teams together under one roof, reflecting a new chapter in their work culture following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heatherwick Studio partner Neil Hubbard explained how the pandemic shifted their priorities at the office: “When Covid happened, it affected everybody – especially our sense of togetherness. Coming back, it felt necessary for our relationships to evolve and grow.” This new office embodies that evolution, designed to encourage collaboration and shared creativity across all studio departments.

Architectural Transformation and Heritage of Heatherwick Studio London Office

The building itself is a key part of the story of the Heatherwick Studio London Office. Originally a 1950s two-storey brick industrial warehouse, it was converted into an office for the fashion brand Diesel in the early 2000s. This conversion included an asymmetric curved glulam (glued laminated timber) roof, a striking architectural feature that Heatherwick Studio chose to retain and celebrate.

Hubbard described the building as “a bit weird — it doesn’t always make sense,” but that very uniqueness presented layers of potential. “Each level tells a different story,” he added, emphasizing the studio’s appreciation for buildings with character and history in their Heatherwick Studio London Office.

The ground floor was turned into an open-plan space

Engaging the Street and Community Around Heatherwick Studio London Office

Minimal changes were made to the exterior of the Heatherwick Studio London Office, aside from opening the street-facing facade with new glazing and full-height double doors. This decision reflects Heatherwick Studio’s desire to reconnect with the local community and contribute to the revitalization of London’s high streets, which often face decline or reduced foot traffic.

“The ground floor is about presence on the street,” said Hubbard. “High streets are perceived as dying, but we wanted to be visible and open—to be part of the community again. This space is the opposite of what we had before.” This approach positions the office as an active and welcoming part of King’s Cross.

The facade redesign aligns with the studio’s broader “Humanise” campaign launched in late 2023, which promotes active, engaging, and interesting urban streetscapes—an ideal embodied by the Heatherwick Studio London Office.

The street facade was opened up with new glazing and full-height doors

Interior Layout and Studio Culture

Inside, the former office partitions were removed to create a large open-plan space on the ground floor of the Heatherwick Studio London Office, filled with models and prototypes from the studio’s portfolio. A significant portion of this floor houses a workshop, underscoring the studio’s commitment to hands-on making and physical model review, which is central to their design process.

Hubbard emphasized, “Making is a vital part of our culture at the Heatherwick Studio London Office. It’s how we understand designs beyond drawings. Displaying these objects connects us to our work and identity.”

The studio’s founder, Thomas Heatherwick’s very first project—a pavilion from 1993—has been restored and repurposed as a meeting room within the Heatherwick Studio London Office, anchoring the space in the studio’s rich history.

A workshop runs the length of the ground floor

Upper Floors: Workspaces and Inspiration

The first floor contains the main office with varied desk arrangements designed to accommodate both collaborative teams and individual work in the Heatherwick Studio London Office. Concrete columns are sandblasted and left exposed, maintaining an industrial aesthetic while providing a raw, authentic atmosphere.

Shelves filled with eclectic objects collected by employees add personality and inspiration to the workspace. “Our team’s diversity and eclectic backgrounds are reflected in the objects around us,” Hubbard noted. “We wanted the space to feel like a home filled with intriguing items,” a key part of the office’s atmosphere.

The first floor contains the main office space

Events and Community Engagement

The top floor is an open, flexible event space that opens onto a terrace and overlooks a mezzanine below. Since moving in, Heatherwick Studio has used this area within their Heatherwick Studio London Office for lectures, parties, and educational programs, including hosting over 600 young people aged 11 to 14.

The basement houses the studio’s archive, preserving their legacy while supporting ongoing innovation at the Heatherwick Studio London Office.

An events space was placed on the top floor

A Thoughtful Approach to Reuse

Although Heatherwick Studio is known for designing new buildings, Hubbard stressed the importance of working with existing structures for their own office: “We’ve become almost experts in heritage projects, but we don’t treat them with reverence. Instead, we play with history and create new stories within old buildings.” This philosophy is fully realized in the Heatherwick Studio London Office.

This approach contrasts minimalist heritage interventions, focusing instead on layered narratives, playful design, and practical reuse. Hubbard noted, “Reuse is a major topic in the UK, but not as much elsewhere. We embraced all challenges—from unexpected flooding to hidden pipework—to fully understand and adapt the building,” all part of the Heatherwick Studio London Office transformation.

An open meeting space is in the centre of the floor plan

Architectural Analysis

The Heatherwick Studio London Office renovation embodies adaptive reuse principles by preserving the industrial character while layering contemporary design elements that enhance functionality and community engagement. The decision to maintain the glulam timber roof and exposed concrete structures creates a dialogue between past and present, reflecting the studio’s ethos of blending innovation with respect for heritage.

The open-plan ground floor fosters interaction and visibility, breaking down traditional office hierarchies. This spatial organization supports creative collaboration, aligning with post-pandemic work culture shifts that prioritize community and flexibility in the Heatherwick Studio London Office.

The facade intervention, with full-height glazing and double doors, reactivates the building’s relationship with its urban context, turning a once-isolated structure into a welcoming landmark on King’s Cross’s high street. This architectural move is both symbolic and functional, reinforcing Heatherwick Studio’s commitment to “humanizing” public space through design at the office.

Incorporating workshop spaces and displaying prototypes anchors the studio’s identity in craft and materiality, essential components of Heatherwick’s creative process. The preservation and adaptive reuse of Thomas Heatherwick’s first project within the office serve as a tangible narrative thread connecting the studio’s past and present in the office.

Overall, this renovation project illustrates a sensitive yet innovative approach to urban regeneration, workplace design, and heritage architecture, setting a model for creative offices worldwide—starting with the Heatherwick Studio London Office.