22 Handyside Street

A unique façade to meet unique design challenges

22 Handyside Street occupies a unique location that posed a significant design challenge. It shares space with Grade II-listed mainline which required a super lightweight structural solution to avoid overloading the underground tunnels.

The building’s orientation was first shifted diagonally to achieve a balanced weight distribution. Then, aluminium panels were chosen as a lightweight cladding solution to further minimise the weight placed on the tunnels and ensure the project could proceed as planned.

In combination, these measures ensured that the building was viable and the project would enjoy a superior orientation for both views and heat gain. The anodised aluminium façade offered other advantages, too.

Anodised aesthetic that is central to the design

The building’s luminous, filigree façade is central to its design. The anodised finish creates a consistent, seamless shell for the building which was a non-negotiable part of the original vision for 22 Handyside Street. The diagonal orientation creates a sawtooth profile which references the area’s industrial past to create a modern landmark.

It delivers a striking civic identity that brings a vibrancy to the building's interior and exterior, lending depth to the elevation and mirroring the adjacent Handyside Gardens to stunning effect.

The embossed and perforated panels interact with the transparent, translucent and solid curtain walls to create interplays of light throughout the day as the sun moves, enhancing the building’s beauty and forming a more natural, healthy aesthetic for enhanced tenant comfort.

Phil Coffey, Director at Coffey Architects, said: “Being conscious of the movement of the sun improves our health and concentration; it reconnects us to our circadian rhythms.

“The [anodised façade] maximises ambient light levels and reflects the rhythmic colours of the London sky throughout the day”

A collaborative, innovative project defined by its façade

The anodised façade of 22 Handyside Street is a product of close collaboration with everyone involved. Prototyping, mock-ups and client engagement were all part of the specification. The finish provided the material performance necessary for unique architectural, structural and design innovations.

The result is a RIBA London Award winning building which is an outstanding example of how to do more with less on a challenging site. The anodised façade defines the project and transforms it from a great building into an outstanding one.

Victoria Watts, Sales Director at United Anodisers, said:

“We were delighted to work so closely with Coffey Architects and Fleetwood Architectural Aluminium to help realise their vision. By collaborating at every stage, we ensured the anodised finish achieved exactly what the original design intended - delivering consistency, quality and a distinctive identity for this standout building.”