ROSE COURT SECURES
PLANNING FOR EXTENSIVE
REFURBISHMENT
BDG ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN
The Rose Court building, located at 2 Southwark Bridge Road,
London, has received planning permission for extensive
refurbishment.
BDG architecture + design has obtained planning permission on
behalf of WPP. The BDG refurbishment will dramatically improve
the performance of the existing Rose Court building and includes
sensitively added mass along Southwark Bridge Road and at roof
level.
An addition to the front façade, the street line and the roof
extension will be carefully sculpted in response to long-range
protected views of St Paul’s. A new rooftop terrace, bordered by
green roof and planting, offers spectacular views towards the
City, South Bank, Tate Modern and across the River Thames.
Externally, the existing heavy granite cladding will be removed
and replaced with a new high-performance brick and glass
façade system. Along Southwark Bridge Road at ground and
first floors the granite cladding will be replaced with full height
‘shop front’ style glazing to increase visibility and transparency
helping to animate the street.
Internally, the scheme provides high quality ‘CatA +’ shared
amenity spaces in the form of a café, canteen, restaurant event
space and business lounge. These are located at lower and upper
storeys with new staircase connections to encourage movement
and ease pressure on lifts.
The flexible workspace will incorporate elements of the existing
exposed concrete structure in open areas to maximise volume.
Services will be concealed and cores fully refurbished.
The existing building sits astride the 16th century remains of the
Rose Playhouse. Uncovered in 1989, the Rose Playhouse is one
of the best-preserved examples of its type and a listed historical
monument. BDG has been working closely with the Rose Theatre
Trust to improve the existing Playhouse setting whilst ensuring
the Playhouse can continue to operate during the project works. The building will achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
The BDG design takes cues from the historical context and
local industrial fabric using earthy, natural materials and colour
references. A generous sunken courtyard at roof level echoes the
size and position of the original Playhouse structure and houses
a stunning spiral concrete staircase, giving access to the roof. BDG architecture + design Ltd is part of the WPP Group. Reg no.
02707220 at East Studio, Riverside Walk, Sea Containers, 18
Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD
Core Team: Lead Designer: BDG architecture + design Project
Manager / QS: Colliers International Services Consultant: Hoare
Lea Structures Consultant: Webb Yates Façade Consultant:
Eckersley O’Callaghan
www.bdg-a-d.com