Home News Crittall Hits the High Notes with Sony

Crittall Hits the High Notes with Sony

02 June 2009

Using Crittall Corporate 2000 steel windows as an interior glazed screen

Internal steel glazed doors and partitioning from Crittall Windows Corporate 2000 range have played a significant role in the transformation of Derry and Tom's original department store on Kensington High Street into the new headquarters of Sony Music Entertainment. Award-winning interior architecture practice MoreySmith is the firm responsible for the changes, transforming the third and fourth floors of the Grade II* listed Art Deco building into a creative and unique open plan warehouse style office accommodation for over 450 employees within the organisation.

The former department store features 4,500sq m floor plates with natural light only around the perimeter and the brief was for the interior to have a raw, edgy, warehouse feel, referring to the Art Deco exterior. The design incorporates reclaimed wooden floor boards and exposed services and rafted ceilings, which contrast with the Crittall contemporary glass and steel structures that compartmentalise the interior spaces. The designers removed large sections of the slabs between the two floors introducing bridge links and walkways to enhance and maximise communication and interaction amongst the staff. The layout includes a dramatic ground floor entrance, 3rd floor reception, a central café space off which leads the open plan workplaces, quiet rooms, meeting and

board rooms and a creative hub which fulfils the client's brief for a comprehensive music and entertainment emporium.

Instrumental to the creation of light, bright interiors was the installation of internal glazed screens, separating the various labels and departments and ensuring a natural light source for meeting rooms and central spaces. These galvanised Crittall glazed screens are juxtaposed against the reclaimed timber flooring and high ceilings of the interior.. Exposed services internally enhance the warehouse feel of the new space and the screens allow light to naturally flood around.

"The incorporation of the Crittall steel glazed screens and partitions was fundamental to creating the desired effect," says a spokesman for MoreySmith. "As well as providing a striking individual entrance to each label group, they allow the ingress of light through to the heart of the building. The galvanised finish and industrial feel sits perfectly within the warehouse space, while reflecting the Art Deco exterior."

Image copyright Patrick Burrows Photography

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