The £130m renovation of Fenwick’s former flagship store in London, awarded to Faithdean, marks a significant transformation effort.
- Approved by Westminster City Council, the project involves innovative techniques to increase floor heights via lifting slabs.
- Architectural enhancements include four new stepped floors with terraces, alongside newly jacked facades.
- 50% of the existing building structure will be retained to address accessibility issues, deviating from a 90% preservation plan.
- The development aligns with Westminster’s sustainability focus and follows recent legal precedents on retrofit versus demolition.
Faithdean’s award of the £130 million project to overhaul Fenwick’s former flagship store in London signifies a major construction endeavour. The approved transformation scheme features groundbreaking methods to elevate entire floor slabs, thus enhancing the floor heights throughout the building. Westminster City Council sanctioned the project back in April, paving the way for these substantial modifications.
The proposed alterations are not merely structural but also aesthetic, involving the construction of four new stepped-storey floors complemented by terraces. These additions are set to grace the six existing buildings that encompass the store’s property. Moreover, three of the facades of the buildings within the complex will undergo a similar jacking process to achieve uniform elevation.
A notable decision in the planning process was the choice to maintain 50 per cent of the current structure. Initially, a 90 per cent retention was considered; however, it was deemed impractical due to accessibility challenges posed by uneven floor plates. Thus, collaborating with architect Foster + Partners and engineering consultant Buro Happold, the project aims to optimise accessibility without forsaking modernity.
Central to the execution of this grand design is subcontractor Erith, tasked with deploying 150 jacks to lift sections of the facades and floors. This sophisticated method of elevating the floor slabs without damaging the slabs themselves is set to redefine the internal architecture of the buildings. On Brook Street, this will involve a careful separation of beams from columns prior to their elevation.
The intricate process will see another section, Salisbury House, utilise column jacking to mitigate risks associated with the hollow clay tile slabs. This intricate engineering feat reflects a commitment to preserving structural integrity while still achieving the architectural vision. The store ceased retail operations at the start of the year, following its acquisition by Lazari for £430 million in 2022.
This development emphasises the evolving approach towards sustainable adaptation of historical buildings in urban settings.
