Great Suffolk Yard

Great Suffolk Yard

Great Suffolk Yard

Our Great Suffolk Yard project is a 7,623m2 commercial development in the Liberty of the Mint Conservation Area in Borough.

The retrofit and new-build project reinstates the warehouse and yard typology that characterises the area.

The retrofit and new-build project reinstates the warehouse and yard typology that characterises the area.

Three existing buildings and four new buildings enclose a central yard to create a thriving new multi-aspect workspace peppered with terraces.

Three existing buildings and four new buildings enclose a central yard to create a thriving new multi-aspect workspace peppered with terraces.

Site location The site as found represented a piece of Southwark’s rich and layered history. The central yard space, an important existing feature, is a typical historic condition found in this area of industrial Southwark.

Site location

The site as found represented a piece of Southwark’s rich and layered history.

The central yard space, an important existing feature, is a typical historic condition found in this area of industrial Southwark.

Existing plans Our archival research into the buildings on the site revealed clues to their historical uses, which informed the building names today: the Sea Building was used as base for trading fish; occupants of the Engineering Building site w

Existing plans

Our archival research into the buildings on the site revealed clues to their historical uses, which informed the building names today: the Sea Building was used as base for trading fish; occupants of the Engineering Building site were hydraulic engineers making valves and meters; and the Works building was among the first places in London to manufacture bicycles.

The site as found The site has three street frontages: Great Suffolk Street, Toulmin Street and Pickwick Street, with long views along Great Suffolk Street. The surrounding context is a mix of post-war residential blocks, a parade of shops and ca

The site as found

The site has three street frontages: Great Suffolk Street, Toulmin Street and Pickwick Street, with long views along Great Suffolk Street. The surrounding context is a mix of post-war residential blocks, a parade of shops and cafés, and the three-storey red brick Libertine pub and adjacent Charles Dickens Primary School.

The existing condition as found fronting Toulmin Street. The site is made up of industrial buildings from different periods – the earliest dating from 1850 – which have been altered over the years.

The existing condition as found fronting Toulmin Street.

The site is made up of industrial buildings from different periods – the earliest dating from 1850 – which have been altered over the years.

The yard space as found Archaeological finds of Roman burial plots and grave items were discovered during pre-construction excavations, and the investigation dated the first development of the plot to medieval times.

The yard space as found

Archaeological finds of Roman burial plots and grave items were discovered during pre-construction excavations, and the investigation dated the first development of the plot to medieval times.

The yard typology The Southwark yard typology was a central focus of our design. Whereas other schemes for the site had sought to demolish the existing fabric and build a single, large building on the site, our scheme embraced the canyon-like y

The yard typology

The Southwark yard typology was a central focus of our design.

Whereas other schemes for the site had sought to demolish the existing fabric and build a single, large building on the site, our scheme embraced the canyon-like yards typical of the area.

Unfolded elevations and yard study The yard condition allowed us to create a unique workplace focused on wellbeing, outdoor terraces, cross ventilation, and multi-aspect spaces.

Unfolded elevations and yard study

The yard condition allowed us to create a unique workplace focused on wellbeing, outdoor terraces, cross ventilation, and multi-aspect spaces.

Proposed materials The site is characterised by a mixture of brick types and tones, stone details, concrete banding, framing and lintels, timber doors, metal windows, corrugated metal roofing and tiled roofs. We drew on the history of the site

Proposed materials

The site is characterised by a mixture of brick types and tones, stone details, concrete banding, framing and lintels, timber doors, metal windows, corrugated metal roofing and tiled roofs.

We drew on the history of the site by exposing the existing fabric and introducing robust, complimentary face finished materials that can stand the test of time.

Toulmin Street, as found and as built Site surveys, context studies and archival research informed our proposals, which balance retention, refurbishment and new build across the site.

Toulmin Street, as found and as built

Site surveys, context studies and archival research informed our proposals, which balance retention, refurbishment and new build across the site.

Existing and proposed massing models The proposals realise the site’s potential while respecting the social history and local yard typology. The scheme was developed over a series of collaborative pre-applications with Southwark planners.

Existing and proposed massing models

The proposals realise the site’s potential while respecting the social history and local yard typology.

The scheme was developed over a series of collaborative pre-applications with Southwark planners.

Renders testing the composition: Pickwick Street

Renders testing the composition: Pickwick Street

Renders testing the composition: Toulmin Street

Renders testing the composition: Toulmin Street

Proposed plans The client brief required a contemporary commercial development which offered the flexibility to be let either as a single building or to multiple tenants, with a 1:6 or 1:8 capacity. This presented a tension between the requirem

Proposed plans

The client brief required a contemporary commercial development which offered the flexibility to be let either as a single building or to multiple tenants, with a 1:6 or 1:8 capacity.

This presented a tension between the requirement of the plan – to provide connected open plan floor space – and the elevations and character of the site, which called for conserving a family of distinct buildings.

Great Suffolk Yard overview

Our strategy has been to divide the plot into key massing elements, rebuilding it holistically through a series of new buildings, rooftop extensions and roof terraces. The result is a sense of spatial generosity, vistas and connectedness that unifies the buildings.

Great Suffolk Street elevation The scheme is made up of a family of existing and new buildings facing the surrounding streets, and inwards to the central yard. The Town House on Great Suffolk Street, central on the image above, is the last of a

Great Suffolk Street elevation

The scheme is made up of a family of existing and new buildings facing the surrounding streets, and inwards to the central yard.

The Town House on Great Suffolk Street, central on the image above, is the last of a 19th-century terrace that stood on the site, which has gained a mansard roof extension. Around it are the Sea Building, Carriageway and Engineering buildings.

View north along Great Suffolk Street The red brick Carriageway Building on Great Suffolk Street is a new building that draws on the industrial language of the area and creates a purposeful entrance from the street to the central courtyard. Its

View north along Great Suffolk Street

The red brick Carriageway Building on Great Suffolk Street is a new building that draws on the industrial language of the area and creates a purposeful entrance from the street to the central courtyard.

Its neighbour, the buff brick Engineering Building, is a new building with heights ranging from three to six storeys, and an outdoor terrace linking to the front-facing Great Suffolk Street.

View south along Great Suffolk Street The Sea Building is an an 800m2 corner building which has been extended by two storeys. The extension is differentiated by a glazed red brick, in contrast to the plain brick below, to delineate new from old.

View south along Great Suffolk Street

The Sea Building is an an 800m2 corner building which has been extended by two storeys. The extension is differentiated by a glazed red brick, in contrast to the plain brick below, to delineate new from old. A black metal, set-back top level completes the corner of the plot.

Refurbishment and building extensions meeting New and old materials meet at the junction of the Works building and the Sea Building.

Refurbishment and building extensions meeting

New and old materials meet at the junction of the Works building and the Sea Building.

The Works and Sea Building looking east along Toulmin Street Reuse of the existing buildings combined with carefully composed new additions dramatically reduced the amount of waste that would have been generated, and takes advantage of the signif

The Works and Sea Building looking east along Toulmin Street

Reuse of the existing buildings combined with carefully composed new additions dramatically reduced the amount of waste that would have been generated, and takes advantage of the significant embodied energy on the site. The development achieved net zero on carbon reduction during the construction stage.

The Works building entrance The Works is a fine historic workshop building which has been retrofitted with a new corrugated metal mansard roof providing three new storeys set behind recessed terraces facing Toulmin Street.

The Works building entrance

The Works is a fine historic workshop building which has been retrofitted with a new corrugated metal mansard roof providing three new storeys set behind recessed terraces facing Toulmin Street.

Rooftops of the Pickwick buildings and the Works

Rooftops of the Pickwick buildings and the Works

Entrance to the yard from Pickwick Street Public routes into the site and through the buildings are signalled by Staffordshire Blue tiles, which act as a navigational tool.

Entrance to the yard from Pickwick Street

Public routes into the site and through the buildings are signalled by Staffordshire Blue tiles, which act as a navigational tool.

Route from the street to the yard The wayfinding signage has been designed by Richard Ardagh Studio . Lettering cut out from metal stencil plates, and paint applied to the brickwork by traditional signwriter Ash Bishop convey a raw, textured pre

Route from the street to the yard

The wayfinding signage has been designed by Richard Ardagh Studio. Lettering cut out from metal stencil plates, and paint applied to the brickwork by traditional signwriter Ash Bishop convey a raw, textured presence, highlighting the buildings’ industrial heritage, and referencing the materials and manufacturing that took place there.

The central yard The transformed central yard space at the heart of the scheme, accessed from both ends of the site, provides daylight and natural ventilation to the workspaces.

The central yard

The transformed central yard space at the heart of the scheme, accessed from both ends of the site, provides daylight and natural ventilation to the workspaces.

The central yard as seen from The Sea Building A new network of exterior metal walkways along the perimeter buildings has opened up routes into the yard from all levels of the buildings, animating the yard and creating a sense of community across

The central yard as seen from The Sea Building

A new network of exterior metal walkways along the perimeter buildings has opened up routes into the yard from all levels of the buildings, animating the yard and creating a sense of community across the site.

The central yard and external walkways The yard is a dynamic communal space at the hub of the development, complementing the new roof terraces which offer spaces for retreat and reflection.

The central yard and external walkways

The yard is a dynamic communal space at the hub of the development, complementing the new roof terraces which offer spaces for retreat and reflection.

The reception, which is accessed directly off the central yard Staffordshire blue pavers continue into reception to identify it as a shared space.

The reception, which is accessed directly off the central yard

Staffordshire blue pavers continue into reception to identify it as a shared space.

The Engineering Building, with reception beyond

The Engineering Building, with reception beyond

Double doors connecting the Engineering Building to the yard

Double doors connecting the Engineering Building to the yard

Staffordshire blue pavers guide visitors around the public areas

Staffordshire blue pavers guide visitors around the public areas

The Pickwick Buildings New additions are characterised by fair-faced blockwork and self-finished materials, drawing a clear distinction between new and old.

The Pickwick Buildings

New additions are characterised by fair-faced blockwork and self-finished materials, drawing a clear distinction between new and old.

Pickwick Corner, a refurbished warehouse space Internally, the original buildings have been stripped back to their cores, showing the buildings’ materiality and increasing daylight levels.

Pickwick Corner, a refurbished warehouse space

Internally, the original buildings have been stripped back to their cores, showing the buildings’ materiality and increasing daylight levels.

Changing brick tones delineate where The Engineering Building meets The Carriageway Building Floorplates have been designed to create a clear sequence of spaces across the site, suiting a single tenant or multiple tenants.

Changing brick tones delineate where The Engineering Building meets The Carriageway Building

Floorplates have been designed to create a clear sequence of spaces across the site, suiting a single tenant or multiple tenants.

The Engineering Building view over Great Suffolk Street

The Engineering Building view over Great Suffolk Street

Door at first floor giving access to the raised walkways around the yard

Door at first floor giving access to the raised walkways around the yard

The refurbished ground floor of The Works Building

The refurbished ground floor of The Works Building

The refurbished ground floor of The Sea Building

The refurbished ground floor of The Sea Building

Emulating a raw, industrial aesthetic, services are exposed throughout

Emulating a raw, industrial aesthetic, services are exposed throughout

Multi-aspect, well-lit workspaces gather around the yard

Multi-aspect, well-lit workspaces gather around the yard

Access to dedicated roof terraces

Access to dedicated roof terraces

Roof terrace at high level in The Engineering Building There are multiple roof terraces across the site, which offer spaces vary in size from communal gathering and event space to smaller balconies for retreat and reflection.

Roof terrace at high level in The Engineering Building

There are multiple roof terraces across the site, which offer spaces vary in size from communal gathering and event space to smaller balconies for retreat and reflection.

North facing terrace in The Works Building Smaller terraces provide sheltered, private spaces.

North facing terrace in The Works Building

Smaller terraces provide sheltered, private spaces.

Roof space in the new Pickwick Building

Roof space in the new Pickwick Building

The Engineering Building viewed across the yard from The Works Building The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold certifications, which attest to Great Suffolk Yard’s credentials for both environmental sustainability and user wellb

The Engineering Building viewed across the yard from The Works Building

The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold certifications, which attest to Great Suffolk Yard’s credentials for both environmental sustainability and user wellbeing. The development has also received a WiredScore Platinum rating. Continuing the commitment to sustainability, the property will be managed by TSP, a certified B Corporation, ensuring that high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability are maintained during operation.

View north along Great Suffolk Street

View north along Great Suffolk Street

More about the project

More about the project

The Architects’ Journal

A retrofit in the heart of Dickens land - Great Suffolk Yard building study

New London Architecture

Research Paper: WRK / LDN: Office Revolution?

The Architects’ Journal

TDO unveils plans for £18.5m revamp of historic Southwark yard

Building Design

TDO wins planning for £18.5m Southwark scheme

Renders by Darc Studio

Photography by Taran Wilkhu (exteriors) and Ed Reeve (interiors)