As the supply of developable land in London diminishes, our adaptive reuse of the Fenwick building on Bond Street explores "onfill", aiming to develop the vacant roof space above the historic layers to create a distinctive and creative addition to the evolving roofscape of Mayfair.
A playful townscape
As a microcosm of Mayfair’s architectural evolution, the Fenwick site is a complex puzzle of structures formed through over 130 years of incremental consolidation. Since its origins as a single plot in 1891, the site has expanded to absorb a significant portion of the urban block, wrapping around historic landmarks and intricate historic structures.
Our research into this context revealed a townscape defined by a playful expression of material variety, where the finish of adjacent buildings often contrast in a delightful interplay. The resulting design for Fenwick joins this historic dialogue by utilising fluted green ceramics, providing a distinct, handcrafted addition that respects and enhances the intricate DNA of this storied city block.
The extension sought to provide space for hotel use connecting to the operation of the nearby Mandarin Oriental Mayfair creating lush green terraces for hotel guests to enjoy. The roof landscape was designed to connect to the greenery of nearby Hanover Square, while adding to the biodiversity of the area and intensifying the use of the site, optimising its value and driving design excellence.
Unlocking the elevations
Our initial design proposal focused on three core design principles:
1
Human-scale massing: The extension was envisioned as a series of stacked dormers as a typology reflecting the surrounding Mayfair grain while providing depth and relief.
2
Ceramic artisanship: To soften the building’s form, we proposed a glazed green ceramic tile palette. These fluted portals were designed to reference local artisan traditions and create a reflective quality that shifts in tone across the staggered levels.
3
Biodiversity and thresholds: The design integrated green terraces to enhance local biodiversity and create a new usable roofscape above the historic Fenwick building, negotiating the transition from old and historic to new and contemporary.
Architecture of the Stacked Dormer
Rather than competing with the historic facade, the new extension takes its cues from the traditional dormer typology. We articulated the massing as a series of stacked roof lights and terraces, creating a rhythmic modulation of depth and relief. This visual stacking ensures the additional massing feels unified and complete, yet subservient to the street experience.
In the dense fabric of Mayfair, the roofscape is often a forgotten territory of outdated plants and incoherent structures. By de-cluttering and rationalising the existing roof space, we envisioned a strategy to reclaim this high-value area, transforming it from a servicing zone into a sophisticated hotel extension that acts as a distinctive, harmonious addition to the Mayfair roofscape.
Crafted and innovative materiality
By using fluted ceramic portals in subtly varied tones, the building achieves a reflective, artisanal quality that shifts with the light. These emerald-toned bays are softened by integrated green terraces, taking the landscape of Hanover Square up into the sky to create a unique visual amenity for both guests and the city.
Recognising the complexity of a live retail environment, our strategy prioritised the local community through the use of off-site prefabrication and modular structures to minimise disruption.
Our vision for the Fenwick site demonstrates that architectural intensification needn't come at the cost of heritage or the city below. The result is a design that balances the precision of modern off-site construction with the soulful, handcrafted quality of fluted ceramics, creating a sustainable, biodiverse, and commercially vibrant future for one of Mayfair’s most storied blocks.
