A family law firm with an international reputation for its work in child and family law, engaged ZCD architects to advise on the purchase and retrofit of a new office building for their expanding team.
Nestled within the Fleet street conservation area the building has a long history as law chambers. Alterations to the exterior of the building were heavily restricted but we were able to extend the mansard roof and add a new roof terrace.
Internally, ZCD worked closely with the firm to dramatically update the building’s layout responding to the specific requirements of a family law office. As well as needing to provide a welcoming and calm environment that places visitors at ease, we needed to provide a high level of privacy, security and confidentiality to clients who are often at highly sensitive and emotional times in their lives.
The relationship between public and private areas is carefully considered with spaces becoming increasingly private as you navigate the building. The look and feel of the building’s material palette includes dark wood joinery (a reference to the professional feel of traditional law offices) and a lava stone floor set in a contemporary pattern that follows the geometry of the spaces and draws visitors through the building.
ZCD used a targeted approach to improve the buildings thermal and mechanical performance - sensitively introducing insulation to the building shell and radically reducing its energy consumption. Working closely with the MEP consultant, Hydrock, an Air Source Heat Pump system was seamlessly introduced into the building with the additional MEP infrastructure incorporated into joinery pieces to minimise their visual impact.
