North Bailey House

Remodelling a 1970s office building, retaining key structures and enhancing sustainability

Project Overview

This project involved the refurbishment of a tired 1970s office building in the heart of Oxford, transforming it into a modern, Grade A office space with food and retail units at ground level.

The existing octagonal mass of the building was stripped back to allow for a more refined, contemporary design.

The redevelopment focused on upgrading both the external appearance and internal performance, ensuring the building became more suitable for modern commercial use while improving its energy efficiency and sustainability.

Challenges Faced

Working on a confined site adjacent to pedestrianised areas required meticulous planning to avoid disruption.

Coordination with third parties, such as Thames Water and building control, was crucial to obtaining the necessary approvals without affecting the project timeline.

Additionally, maintaining a balance between retaining elements of the original structure and introducing modern architectural features posed a significant challenge.

Reuse and repurposing

The refurbishment retained large portions of the original structure, allowing for the addition of four floors of commercial space above new retail areas at ground level.

This approach not only preserved valuable structural components but also increased the building’s commercial space.

A modern façade was constructed to improve the building’s external appearance, featuring a tall, glazed stone colonnade to emphasise verticality and enhance the sense of perspective at street level.

The west-facing façade was replaced with a projecting glass box, adorned with stone fins to create a rhythm of vertical elements.

Internally, an existing retail delivery bay was reimagined as a double-height reception space, with gold-hued metal panelling around a cutaway feature entrance, providing a striking point of arrival.

Outcome

The refurbishment successfully revitalised the building, delivering Grade A office space and modern retail units.

The new façade not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal but also improved the building’s energy efficiency, aligning with modern sustainability standards.

The project increased the commercial value of the site while creating a more functional, contemporary space for tenants, all within the constraints of a busy, urban location.