469 Bethnal Green Road

Built

In East London, a deep retrofit turns a former textile workshop on Bethnal Green Road – once slated for demolition – into 2,200 sqm of contemporary, flexible workspace.

Tucked into the vibrant fabric of East London, this deep retrofit transforms a former textile workshop on Bethnal Green Road — once slated for demolition — into 2,200 sqm of contemporary, flexible workspace. Rather than erase the past, the project retains and builds upon the original 1970s grey-brick structure, doubling its scale through a lightweight galvanized steel and timber extension.

Working within the constraints of a narrow site and the Central Line tunnel below, the design preserves the entire concrete frame and foundations. This existing structure forms the base for a new steel and solid Douglas fir frame, chosen to echo the original concrete floors while reducing embodied carbon. The result is a building defined by structural clarity, low-carbon materials and minimal intervention.

A new galvanized steel façade, only 3mm thick but deeply articulated, introduces horizontal fins and shading that enhance both comfort and architectural rhythm. The tonal pairing of grey brick with silver steel creates visual continuity, while the contrasting textures distinguish between old and new.

NLA Awards 2025

COMMENDED - RETROFIT

Supported by the Mayor of London, the NLA Awards celebrate all scale of projects, from community-led to large-scale mixed-use developments, both built and unbuilt, that contribute to the creation of a more sustainable, civilised, and egalitarian London.

Project information

Status

Built

Borough

Tower Hamlets

Completion

2025

Location

26 Store St, London WC1E 7BT, UK

Team Credits

Client

Unity