Centre Point Tower

Centre Point Tower was designed by George Marsh, Richard Seifert’s partner, in the 1960s, its modern materiality and imposing height represented a new generation of Londoners and the creative energy of the time. Despite being given Grade II listed building status in the mid-1990s, the 34-storey office tower was left neglected and largely unoccupied. In 2010 Almacantar commissioned Conran and Partners to restore the tower, and repurpose it to ensure its viability for future generations. It was established that converting the tower to residential use would unlock the wider regeneration of site. Mica Architects were concurrently enlisted to develop the surrounding ‘lateral’ buildings completing the Centre Point composition, transform the wider public realm to regenerate the area where Tottenham Court Road meets Oxford Street. This work is currently being completed. As part of this repurposing, Conran and Partners has fundamentally but discretely redesigned the way in which the tower meets the ground and engages with the sky. Centre Point Tower was originally designed around vehicle - rather than people - access, so there was a need to create a clearly defined and accessible entrance at ground level. Most noticeably relocating the heroic external staircases inside the building creates approaches that are simpler, and more welcoming, as well to provide breathing space between the cross rail station entrances. At the same time plant has also been relocated from the top of the building to the basement to allow for the creation of a dramatic duplex apartment (currently being styled by others). The apartment now features double-height spaces and an encircling balcony which allows for continuous 360 degree views over the city. The external signage at this level was added at a later date it became part of the iconography, however, Conran and Partners have redesigned it to look consistent from the street level but, through the use of mesh, is now largely transparent from within the apartment. The design approach has been to reconnect the spirit of the 1960’s with the present day and link the building’s restored expressive structure with the transformed internal spaces. Once described by Eduardo Paolozzi as London’s first Pop Art building, we sought to retain and restore Centre Point’s striking pre-cast concrete exo-skeleton, re-establishing its relevance in London’s cultural heart. The glazed envelope has been entirely replaced and on the typical floors follows the original pattern but to modern environmental and acoustic standards, and with discrete amendments to improve visibility from inside (actually in line with an original concept watercolour) and to allow residents to open the top lights. The new envelope on the ground and top floors follow this spirit but is intended to remain subservient. Standing confidently in the skyline, the graphic strength of the building’s pre-cast concrete structure creates theatre and expressiveness. The interior design, also by Conran and Partners, has therefore been influenced by the substance and rhythm of the elevations whilst a transition from shadow to light informs the journey for visitors moving through the building. The proportions of the floor plates, circa 16m at its widest and circa 30m between cores, whilst inefficient for modern high rise office use, lend themselves very effectively to residential use. The serving spaces (wcs, Kitchens, bathrooms etc) and height greedy services are all concentrated along the spine of the building. This allows the habitable spaces to simply run parallel with the generous glazing and therefore making best use of the natural light and spectacular views. Within the apartments the finishes palette is also intended to appear effortless and work with the spirit of the building. We have concentrated on a few simple but high quality materials that not only will patinate gracefully over time, but will easily accept the residents own choices of furnishings and decoration. We have, nevertheless, been able to add moments of interest through bespoke ironmongery and graphic tiling, but even these are designed to work with the spirit of the building rather than against it. The common areas on the other hand allow the use of more dramatic materiality. For instance the entrance hall graphically expresses the tone of the building, but with further theatre generated by collaborating with artist such as Cerith Wyn Evans to occupy the space. Blending our experience in the hospitality and residential sectors, we have responded to the needs of modern residents by creating a selection of one to four bedroom apartments supported by world class amenity spaces. A dramatic and naturally lit 30-metre swimming pool and gym, luxury spa and club lounge, located on the equivalent of the second and third floors allow residents to balance a frenetic urban lifestyle with an opportunity to detoxify, relax and recharge in the heart of London. Working with the original structure, the pool is positioned along the full length of the western façade to emphasise the 30-metre long curved façade whilst the bather can enjoy the unusual experience of swimming above and in parallel to Charing Cross Road. Our aim has been to work with the spirit of the architecture and successfully reinvent the iconic building from a struggling, outmoded office tower into a vibrant residential building that responds to the changing requirements of twenty-first century London. Allied with the work undertaken by Mica Architects, the pending opening of the Tottenham Court Road cross rail station and the adjacent works to the south and west of the building, this project materially unblocks this key location at the heart of our city.