Located in the Charlotte Street area, the former Central London office building underwent a renovation in early 2020. The project involved a single-story roof extension, opening up ground floor space to make it flexible, replacing old windows, and refurbishing the building's facade to reveal its hidden brickwork. To rework the facade, Stagg Architects collaborated with exterior coating company Keim to achieve a now vibrant and sophisticated brick rendering.
Facade Concept
Keim tested four samples of their Restauro Lasur coating series, ultimately selecting the natural stone color 9552. Along with Stagg Architects and the Conservation Officer, this color was chosen to help the office building blend harmoniously with the adjacent historical modernist structure and other surrounding stone buildings. In considering climate change, exposing the hidden brick allowed for a lively facade renovation while preventing unnecessary environmental impact.
Keim's Restauro Lasur is an exterior coating formulated specifically for brickwork such as the Whitfield Street office facade. Restauro Lasur enhances the natural material and creates a strong chemical bond to the brick, acting as a protective barrier to prevent future degradation. Keim offers a two-coating system, and an additional base coat can either be used for a brighter color finish or mixed with the coating to dilute the color.
Whitfield Street prior to renovation
Whitfield Street after renovation and Keim brick coating
Keim Restauro Lasur Benefits
- Lightfast and resists fading
- UV and water resistant
- Made with natural materials
- Can provide LEED certification points
- Creates decorative effects for brickwork
- Protects from exterior environmental effects
- Natural light reflective to enhance facade appearance
Project Details
Architect | Stagg Architects |
Developer | 27-29 Whitfield Street Property Ltd |
Main contractor | Ipos Ltd |
Decorating contractor | Paye Stonework and Restoration |
Location | Cyclone House, 27-29 Whitfield St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2SE |
Project completed | March 2020 |
Photographs | Matt Chisnall and Keim Mineral Paints Ltd |
Product used | Keim Restauro Lasur exterior coating |