On London’s Charing Cross Road on the site of the famous old Foyles Bookshop, a striking new structure, developed by Soho Estates, has emerged, attracting attention with its extraordinary façade.
The Ilona Rose House is a multipurpose development in more ways than one. The building is used in different ways, as a high-quality office space giving room for the filming industries creativity to strive within its walls, while also welcoming inhabitants as an affordable housing of development, separated by a public courtyard lined with restaurants and all topped off by stunning rooftop gardens.
The structure itself is a chameleon, paying homage to its past, reflecting as much light as possible on its neighbouring buildings, all while pushing the boundaries of masonry construction with its cantilevered curved brick elevations, a three-story raking brick wall, and barrel-vaulted brick soffit.
With its extraordinary brick façade the building transforms the streetscape and gives the structure, as well as its surroundings, a distinguished look.
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 was keen to specify tumbled bricks to give a weathered look that would bring out the character of the brickwork.
wienerberger’s Terca Super White was decided upon for the extensive south facing elevation of the development, while elsewhere on the project, the stone-like colour and texture of Wivenhoe Blend met the requirement for a very light coloured brick to complement the medium buff and dark coloured bricks that form the important James Court brick elevation.
Christian Wren, Associate at MATT Architecture, explained: “Our brief was to design something evocative and ambitious, pushing the boundaries of design and engineering. This is exemplified through our unique use of brickwork, working closely with brickwork contractor Lesterose. We were thrilled with the final look of the bricks. Now that the public landscaping works in James Court are complete, and restaurants have opened, we can’t wait to see the public enjoying the fantastic space and take in our ambitious brickwork designs.”
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