Smithson Tower

Description

A retrofit of a Mayfair landmark. The Smithson Tower, formerly known as the Economist Tower, is a Neo-Brutalist building in Mayfair. ConForm Architects completed a refit that makes the most of the stunning 11th floor views. To echo the Portland stone external facing, a ceppo di gre tile, Trench, was specified for the circulation around the core. Photography by Nicholas Worley and Lorenzo Zandri

Tiles Used

Trench

Outcome

The Smithson Tower, formerly The Economist Tower, sits at 25 St James Street in the heart of Mayfair. It was designed by Alison and Peter Smithson and built between 1960 and 1964. The Smithsons were prominent architects of the post-war period, perhaps most strongly associated with the New Brutalism movement. The tower used to be the home of The Economist magazine: the magazine departed in 2016 and the building has undergone extensive refurbishment by DSDHA.

ConForm Architects were asked by a private client to refit the 11th floor to create a calm and peaceful office space. Elements of the original design informed the refit. The original air-conditioning system (the first in London) was refitted while adhering to the original plans.

Ben Edgely of ConForm explained that the views of London from the 11th floor were too impressive to ignore and the design strives to accomodate them while at the same time providing spaces for private meetings.

Despite the pandemic the project was finished on time, on budget and to an exemplary standard; impressive for ConForm’s first commercial project. Ben tells us that working with an ambitious client was a pleasure, as was working with a piece of architectural history.