The London Ark
Encyclopedia
The Ark is a prominent office building located in Hammersmith
, London
, acquired by developers Landid, GE Real Estate and O&H properties in 2006 and extensively refurbished in late 2007 early 2008.
The Ark, so called in reference to its hull-like profile, was designed by celebrated architect Ralph Erskine
, for Swedish developers Ake Larson and Pronator.
Erskine, based in Sweden, worked from a small office in collaboration with other trusted architects in order to retain design freedom. In the case of the Ark, Erskine and Vernon Gracie (who worked with Erskine on Byker Wall in Newcastle) collaborated with London architects Rock Townsend and latterly Lennart Bergstrom in Stockholm.
Construction work began on 19 September 1989, the same day planning permission was granted and completed in 1992. Owing to the difficult economic circumstances Ake Larson’s UK division didn’t survive to occupy the building. Drinks company Seagram subsequently occupied the Ark from 1996 until it was bought by Vivendi Universal in 2000.
In 2006 German property company Deka sold the Ark to Landid backed by GE Real Estate and O&H Properties, who saw the building required a radical refit to make the interior better suited for multiple tenants.
The ensuing £20 million conversion was carried out by DN-A architects, comprising the stripping out of the central “village” and connecting walkways which spanned the atrium and the floorplates filled in creating two smaller atriums turning “the doughnut plan into a pretzel” in the words of DN-A director Stuart McLarty.
A new double height atrium was created on the ground floor, and a new fifth and sixth floor were erected, while the seventh floor was extended as an open mezzanine. As a result net lettable floor space was increased by 30%, from 12,100m² to 15,600m². Each floor can be subdivided into two spaces and the open balustrading has been replaced with partially glazed partitions.
The Ark retains many of its original characteristics whilst the interior has been converted into an effective and flexible office space suitable for a diverse array of tenants.
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, acquired by developers Landid, GE Real Estate and O&H properties in 2006 and extensively refurbished in late 2007 early 2008.
The Ark, so called in reference to its hull-like profile, was designed by celebrated architect Ralph Erskine
Ralph Erskine (architect)
Ralph Erskine, CBRE, RFS, ARIBA was an architect and planner who lived and worked in Sweden for most of his life.-Upbringing and influences :...
, for Swedish developers Ake Larson and Pronator.
Erskine, based in Sweden, worked from a small office in collaboration with other trusted architects in order to retain design freedom. In the case of the Ark, Erskine and Vernon Gracie (who worked with Erskine on Byker Wall in Newcastle) collaborated with London architects Rock Townsend and latterly Lennart Bergstrom in Stockholm.
Construction work began on 19 September 1989, the same day planning permission was granted and completed in 1992. Owing to the difficult economic circumstances Ake Larson’s UK division didn’t survive to occupy the building. Drinks company Seagram subsequently occupied the Ark from 1996 until it was bought by Vivendi Universal in 2000.
In 2006 German property company Deka sold the Ark to Landid backed by GE Real Estate and O&H Properties, who saw the building required a radical refit to make the interior better suited for multiple tenants.
The ensuing £20 million conversion was carried out by DN-A architects, comprising the stripping out of the central “village” and connecting walkways which spanned the atrium and the floorplates filled in creating two smaller atriums turning “the doughnut plan into a pretzel” in the words of DN-A director Stuart McLarty.
A new double height atrium was created on the ground floor, and a new fifth and sixth floor were erected, while the seventh floor was extended as an open mezzanine. As a result net lettable floor space was increased by 30%, from 12,100m² to 15,600m². Each floor can be subdivided into two spaces and the open balustrading has been replaced with partially glazed partitions.
The Ark retains many of its original characteristics whilst the interior has been converted into an effective and flexible office space suitable for a diverse array of tenants.