Squire and Partners in Lambeth

[ricbake]

Squire and Partners are doing so much in Lambeth, a tremendous amount, they must be establishing a very close relationship with the Council. Building a closer and closer relationship over the past 5 years. Lots of projects seem to get permissions as a matter of course. It isn't just the "Department Store" the new building at the Windmill, towers at Vauxhall, town houses in Clapham.

The removal of the green dome atop of the Bon Marche extension "Department Store" to be replaced in green glass sounds spectacular but there seemed to be very little debate or discussion. I'm sure it will look spectacular, they are spending a huge amount of money but they are changing Brixton quite dramatically.

They intend to bring ten tons of live oak tree into the middle of Brixton shortly to decorate their new office courtyard!

 

[CH1]

Squire and Partners are doing so much in Lambeth, a tremendous amount, they must be establishing a very close relationship with the Council. Building a closer and closer relationship over the past 5 years. Lots of projects seem to get permissions as a matter of course. It isn't just the "Department Store" the new building at the Windmill, towers at Vauxhall, town houses in Clapham.

The removal of the green dome atop of the Bon Marche extension "Department Store" to be replaced in green glass sounds spectacular but there seemed to be very little debate or discussion. I'm sure it will look spectacular, they are spending a huge amount of money but they are changing Brixton quite dramatically.

They intend to bring ten tons of live oak tree into the middle of Brixton shortly to decorate their new office courtyard!

Where did you get this information?

I don't recall the removal of the dome being proposed when the applciations started coming though.

Now I go to check those applications - and Lambeth website shows there are no documents available on any of them. What a time to have an IT failure!

 

[ricbake]

The glass for the dome was in the original planning but insignificantly considering the affect.

The original planning sketch does actually show it as altered

Have been keeping an eye on them as I work next door - photos here-

The Oak tree, they have alerted some of the neighbours that they are planning on closing Stockwell Avenue to use a crane to bring it in.

 

[editor]

The glass for the dome was in the original planning but insignificantly considering the affect.

The original planning sketch does actually show it as altered

Have been keeping an eye on them as I work next door - photos here-

The Oak tree, they have alerted some of the neighbours that they are planning on closing Stockwell Avenue to use a crane to bring it in.

Ooh do you think I could maybe use some of those pics for Buzz feature at some point?

 

[djdando]

Looks like they're doing a superb job on that building. No doubt lots of you lot will have a moan when its all done though.

 

[madolesance]

Squire and Partners are moving down to Brixton from Kings X cause Brixton is apparently edgier.
300 plus architects are on the way to work, eat, socialise and possibly live in Brixton.
I sense a huge change a comin.

 

[happyshopper]

Squire and Partners are moving down to Brixton from Kings X cause Brixton is apparently edgier.
300 plus architects are on the way to work, eat, socialise and possibly live in Brixton.
I sense a huge change a comin.

You are probably right that having more people spending money in Brixton will have an impact. But how do you know they are coming because Brixton is "edgier"? Perhaps it's just because it's cheaper.

 

[editor]

You are probably right that having more people spending money in Brixton will have an impact. But how do you know they are coming because Brixton is "edgier"? Perhaps it's just because it's cheaper.

Not sure Brixton is particularly cheap these days. All those big chains and hip businesses are going to be sending rents sky high.

 

[equationgirl]

Not sure Brixton is particularly cheap these days. All those big chains and hip businesses are going to be sending rents sky high.

We know private residential rents are skyrocketing, so it would seem entirely feasible that commercial rents would increase in a similar way.

happyshopper there has been so much marketing and hype over the past few years about brixton's 'vibrancy' and 'edgyness' and desirability for those hip and cool enough that I'm not at all surprised companies are buying into it and relocating.

 

[madolesance]

You are probably right that having more people spending money in Brixton will have an impact. But how do you know they are coming because Brixton is "edgier"? Perhaps it's just because it's cheaper.

I believe 'Squire and Partners' staited they wanted to leave Kings x because it was no longer edgier enough for them. Brixton they think will tick all the boxes. They are a global company looking for an edge.

 

[madolesance]

You are probably right that having more people spending money in Brixton will have an impact. But how do you know they are coming because Brixton is "edgier"? Perhaps it's just because it's cheaper.

It may be cheaper, but have you seen how much money they are spending on refurbishing the 'Department Store'? It doesn't look cheap. They are are going to be here for the foreseeable future and all the new businesses that are opening in Brixton know that.

 

[editor]

The glass for the dome was in the original planning but insignificantly considering the affect.

The original planning sketch does actually show it as altered

Have been keeping an eye on them as I work next door - photos here-

The Oak tree, they have alerted some of the neighbours that they are planning on closing Stockwell Avenue to use a crane to bring it in.

Here's how it was looking earlier today

 

[happyshopper]

I believe 'Squire and Partners' staited they wanted to leave Kings x because it was no longer edgier enough for them. Brixton they think will tick all the boxes. They are a global company looking for an edge.

I was looking for some more solid evidence than what you "believe".

 

[shakespearegirl]

Not sure Brixton is particularly cheap these days. All those big chains and hip businesses are going to be sending rents sky high.

I've just been looking at hiring desk space. Comparing desk space costs at Impact Hubs, Brixton - £275 per month, Kings Cross - £460 per month, you can see why a company of 300 is moving to Brixton. Kings Cross has got hugely expensive in recent years.

 

[ricbake]

Ooh do you think I could maybe use some of those pics for Buzz feature at some point?

Help yourself!

 

[ricbake]

Ten tonnes of soil has arrived today for the Landscaped garden courtyard - think the oak tree will be here on Saturday...

Squire & Partners heads to Brixton and new home

Squire & Partners heads to Brixton and new home
3 September 2015 | By David Rogers

Practice leaving King’s Cross in 2016

Squire & Partners is moving to new offices in Brixton after its plans to turn a former department store building into its new base were OK’d by Lambeth council.

The 225-strong practice will move out of its King’s Cross home of 14 years to south London by late 2016. Its new home will include a staff cafe, modelshop, cycle storage, showers and landscaped garden courtyard.

The office will cover more than 4,700sq m – over double the 2,000sq m it currently has at King’s Cross – and will be located in the Department Store, which will be refurbished and extended. It will also include a bar and restaurant that will be owned by the architect.

The development also includes refurbishing a former fire station and stables that will include a new post office and new business units.

Partner Henry Squire, son of founder Michael Squire, said: “Brixton has a unique creative community and vibrancy which we are looking forward to being part of.

They had their own pub in Kings Cross
Building buys a pint for …

And here is a recent article about the outlook of Mr Squire junior

http://www.designcurial.com/news/profile-henry-squire-5027077/

 

[editor]

Ten tonnes of soil has arrived today for the Landscaped garden courtyard - think the oak tree will be here on Saturday...

Squire & Partners heads to Brixton and new home

Squire & Partners heads to Brixton and new home
3 September 2015 | By David Rogers

Practice leaving King’s Cross in 2016

Squire & Partners is moving to new offices in Brixton after its plans to turn a former department store building into its new base were OK’d by Lambeth council.

The 225-strong practice will move out of its King’s Cross home of 14 years to south London by late 2016. Its new home will include a staff cafe, modelshop, cycle storage, showers and landscaped garden courtyard.

The office will cover more than 4,700sq m – over double the 2,000sq m it currently has at King’s Cross – and will be located in the Department Store, which will be refurbished and extended. It will also include a bar and restaurant that will be owned by the architect.

The development also includes refurbishing a former fire station and stables that will include a new post office and new business units.

Partner Henry Squire, son of founder Michael Squire, said: “Brixton has a unique creative community and vibrancy which we are looking forward to being part of.

They had their own pub in Kings Cross
Building buys a pint for …

And here is a recent article about the outlook of Mr Squire junior

Profile: Henry Squire - DesignCurial

It will also include a bar and restaurant that will be owned by the architect.

Well that's very nice.

Brixton has a unique creative community and vibrancy which we are looking forward to being part of.

What a load of stinking bullshit. It's bland, rich, big businesses like this that are stamping on any lingering embers of 'vibrancy' and turning the place into Anytown UK.

 

[bimble]

I can't take it anymore with the vibrancy. Please make it stop.

 

[ricbake]

What a load of stinking bullshit.

I don't think it is...

They have to use some form of words to express the fact that Brixton is attractive to them.
But they do have a very different outlook and people that rich are hard to trust!

 

[editor]

I don't think it is...

They have to use some form of words to express the fact that Brixton is attractive to them.
But they do have a very different outlook and people that rich are hard to trust!

The "unique creative community and vibrancy" they're blathering about has precious little to do with what their company stands for. In fact, in some respects they represent the exact opposite of the kind of creative ethos that Brixton was (once) famous for.

 

[bimble]

Occurs to me that every time I see the word vibrancy it comes in a proposal or a document which seems to be leading to something which (far as I can see) will help to get rid of that very thing which they are trying to describe and be a part of.
Maybe vibrancy is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[ricbake]

15 meters tall and 8.5 tonnes - the Oak arrives.

https://goo.gl/photos/mBaQESh4hodccgcu5

 

[CH1]

15 meters tall and 8.5 tonnes - the Oak arrives.
https://goo.gl/photos/mBaQESh4hodccgcu5

Fabulous photos. I guess you must live in the penthouse at Blue Star House!

I don't agree about the emergency though - anything to do with property is an emergency by default. The on;ly way the country keeps going at the moment is the roulette wheel of property speculation.

Squires' ostentatious requirement for oak trees and green domes surely is absolutely vital to their credibility.

I dialled them up on Google myself - but for the most part their images are bland. The best of the modernist designs looks to be the British Council building in Nairobi (2006).

Just to set alarm buildings ringing - there is also a fascinating new Squires-designed modernist church building - St Andrews Church - somewhere in the city. I just thought it would be wonderful if the dilapidated Victorian church of St Andrews Stockwell Green could be done like that. If I were Canon Bowman I'd get round to Squires tout de suite.

 

[ricbake]

Got my weather station on the roof of Blue Star House and as I work for the owner of the building can come and go whenever No penthouse unfortunately its all offices.

Because they hadn't got the proper permissions in advance - someone high up in the Council put pressure - Squire and Partners have become so important locally and it was too late for a regularly planned street closure - so it was described as "emergency tree works"
How the arrival of a crane, several large trucks and vans plus a 15 metre tree can be an "emergency" can only be related to Squire's credibility...

Got this direct message from the contractor

Good afternoon Blue star house, following your tweet on April the 1st we want to ensure you that all the documentation was in place, I am unsure why Lambeth council did not confirm this however if you would like to check with them our crane license number 12806. regard
Apr 3

 

[ricbake]

Normally there is 10 weeks notice for a road closure so there is plenty of time to put up notices and notify neighbours - No notices for this operation, after various internal communication, an application was made about 3 pm on Friday the 31st, permission granted about 5 pm and 13.5 hours later the closure was in place.

 

[editor]

 

[trabuquera]

It seems like a giant massive crane for not very much tree - was there really no lower-impact method of getting that sapling in situ and into the ground? like a big trolley and a team of working men / women / donkeys?

 

[happyshopper]

Was anyone inconvenienced by the "emergency tree works"?

 

[urbanspaceman]

Some businesses just have no shame: not only do they bring 300 jobs to Brixton and execute a high-quality refurbishment of a significant building, but now - the gall of it - they go and plant a tree. Yes, plant a tree. I think the sheer effrontery of the act speaks for itself.

And they had the temerity to arrange at short notice to have a minor road closed for a few hours on a Bank Holiday. Is there no end to their depravities ? As Ed's picture suggests, can you imagine how deep the corruption goes ? We should appoint a special prosecutor - and the first thing to investigate, as happy shopper suggests, is the extent of injury, losses, distress and trauma suffered by Urbanites - so speak up everyone.

 

[editor]

Some businesses just have no shame: not only do they bring 300 jobs to Brixton and execute a high-quality refurbishment of a significant building, but now - the gall of it - they go and plant a tree. Yes, plant a tree. I think the sheer effrontery of the act speaks for itself..

Yes, you're right. We should hush and be grateful. And if they manage to jump a few hoops and not have to go through the same kind of scrutiny as everyone else, well, that's fine because they doing up a building nicely for themselves.
PS I don't think they're creating 300 jobs in Brixton. I suspect most of their vacancies are already filled by their existing staff.