Lazari Investments has secured planning permission for the remodelling of British Brutalist architect Richard Seifert’s Maple House in London’s West End.
Gibson Thornley Architects has drawn up plans that will see the circa 70,000 sq ft of commercial space transformed into an “uplifting workplace” with a new urban forest in the building’s courtyard.
Maple House, which was built in 1976, occupies an entire city block at the northern end of Tottenham Court Road and comprises office, residential and retail space. A new entrance and frontage to Tottenham Court Road will provide greater visibility into the office entrance, with the ground floor lobby providing co-working and events space.
The podium courtyard, which sits at the heart of the building, has been reimagined by landscape architects Studio ONB as a new urban forest.
Andrie Lazari of Lazari Investments said: “We are animated about reviving Maple House, with Gibson Thornley, retaining and embracing Richard Seifert’s brutalistic architecture with sensitivity and creativity. Gibson Thornley have enhanced the building’s natural features whilst adding amenities for our tenants to nurture their wellbeing within the building.”
Ben Gibson, founding director of Gibson Thornley, added: “The proposals build on our recent experience of reimagining the Link Building at the other end of Tottenham Court Road – another one of Richard Seifert’s buildings at Centre Point. The introduction of the urban forest in the central courtyard will provide much needed breakout space for tenants to unwind and relax, paving the way for the future of commercial buildings in dense urban settings.”
Ben Smith, founding director of Studio ONB, said: “Our courtyard design presents a distinct contrast between the man made and natural layers, bringing nature into focus while examining wider ideas around retrofitting nature into our cities and questioning our ongoing relationship with the natural world. The forest will provide a much needed sense of tranquillity against the bustling Tottenham Court Road.”
