There is a significant proposal to refurbish and extend 31 St Petersburgh Place, which started life as a dairy. Recently, this has been a marketing suite for The Whiteley, offices and a Guillam coffee shop.
Members of the BRA committee have had detailed discussions with the architects and representatives of the new owner. From these it has emerged that:
- The intention is to improve and extend the building to accommodate the new owner’s organization, which proposes to occupy the building as its head office. Guillam and current office tenants will remain in place for the medium term.
- The proposal involves complete refurbishment of the fabric of the existing building, including basements and building services, along with a one-storey addition on the roof and a rear infill extension.
- Fossil fuel combustion would be eliminated using electric heat pumps and multiple upgrades to the building fabric and interiors.
- Rather than taking a more traditional approach, the architects designed the proposed ‘folded’ roof form to reduce visual impact from ground level, for example by lowering the roof at its most prominent corner.
- The proposed design uses traditional materials in a modern way, including an exposed timber structure, and a solar slate roof using photovoltaic cells with the appearance of traditional slate. The part-timber, part-glazed façade of the roof extension has a saw tooth design to direct views away from neighbours and appear more opaque from oblique views.
This would be a major modification of a high-profile building which in its current form makes a vital contribution to our conservation area.
There was a public consulation on these plans at St Matthew’s Church on 9 September. For those who missed this, the display can be seen via this link.
BRA are looking at aspects of the design, namely light overspill at mansard level, overlooking and architectural discord.
Please tell BRA your views on this proposal: membership@bayswaterresidents.org