On London's Charing Cross Road, on the site of the former Foyles Bookshop, a new development by Soho Estates has been completed. The building is distinguished by its curved brick façades and mixed-use programme.
The Ilona Rose House is a multipurpose development in more ways than one. The building is used in different ways, as an office space providing workspace for companies from the creative industries, while also welcoming inhabitants as an affordable housing of development, separated by a public courtyard lined with restaurants and all complemented by rooftop gardens,
The building responds to both its historical context and contemporary architectural requirements. Its design includes cantilevered curved brick elevations, a three-storey raking brick wall, and a barrel-vaulted brick soffit.
The brick façade forms a key element of the architectural concept and contributes to the building's presence within the streetscape.
Spanning a total of 13 storeys the Ilona Rose House owes his name to the rose shaped pattern, that was included in the pink GRC panels on parts of its façade, the brickwork and ceramic tiled elevations are predominantly located along a new restaurant-lined public courtyard called James Court.
Architect Christian Wren from MATT Architecture specified tumbled bricks to achieve a weathered appearance for the brickwork.
wienerberger’s Terca Super White was specified for the extensive south-facing elevation of the development, while Wivenhoe Blend was used in other areas of the project. Its light colour and texture complemented the palette of medium buff and darker bricks incorporated into the James Court elevation.
Christian Wren, Associate at MATT Architecture, explained: “Our brief was to develop a distinctive architectural response through the integration of design and engineering. This is reflected in the brickwork, which was realised in close collaboration with brickwork contractor Lesterose. Now that the public landscaping works in James Court are complete and the restaurants have opened, the space has become part of the public realm and can be experienced as intended.”
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