A mixed-use restoration of a disused Grade-II listed 19th-century landmark department store, activating the street level with brand-new amenities for the public.

W.RE acquired the historic Grade II listed Arding and Hobbs building in November 2018. The building has been part of Battersea’s heritage since 1910, as one of South London’s first purpose-built department stores and is an important local landmark.

The refurbishment plan seeks to create flexible retail and leisure uses across the ground and basement floors and introduce modern office space to the upper floors with a new roof top extension to crown the building. This combination of uses will bring new life to the building and an economic boost to Clapham Junction town centre while restoring the heritage of this iconic landmark.

Across all of W.RE’s projects, the core focus is on the impact a building will have on its users as well as on the local community. Environmental considerations lie at the heart of this. At Arding and Hobbs W.RE are repurposing the existing structure, fully re-engineering the mechanical services into an all electrical system, replacing windows and upgrading the façade to improve thermal performance while using sustainable materials in the roof extension, all whilst supporting a commitment to a net zero carbon development.

Beyond environmental considerations, W.RE believe that intelligent work space design, that places wellbeing and inclusivity at the centre is essential for the office of the future. Arding & Hobbs addresses this through a conscientious restoration of the building’s historic aspects while introducing modern, bright and airy workspaces. All of this accessed through a grand central core that re-purposes the use of escalators and is flooded by natural light through a new skylight. The extensive roof terrace stretches to over 7,000 sq. ft. and is accessible to all users of the building, offering communal places to connect while hidden nooks provide private spaces for quiet reflection.

For the office user, the arrival on the ground floor is into a large lobby with space to meet and mingle, while the basement provides first-rate end-of-trip facilities. The bulk of the ground floor and basement will host a carefully curated mix of retail, leisure and gym uses that will enhance the experience for the office user, generate footfall, giving an economic boost to Clapham Junction town centre, whilst making Arding and Hobbs a very special place to work, shop and enjoy.

W.RE see this retail – leisure – workspace approach as the blueprint for the future of the town centre across the UK. The high street, post pandemic, is here to stay.

Figures
Location: Clapham Junction / Battersea SW11 Scheme type: Asset Management / Development – mixed Use
Size: 108,000 sq ft

Sascha Lewin, CEO of W.RE said: “As specialists in London commercial property, we have seen how the market is changing the high street and how mixed-use developments are becoming the lifeblood of the high street in the new world. Combining our expertise in heritage, innovation, and development, we are confident the iconic Arding and Hobbs building will show that the right commercial offer in town centres will be attractive to occupiers and boost local economies through footfall. The building’s greatest asset is its heritage, and it was important we didn’t lose sight of that, as London enters this new era of Place.”