Case Study: The Scoop

Words: Corstorphine & Wright
Photos: Corstorphine & Wright

Corstorphine & Wright Unveils Innovative Concave Office Building

Leading UK architecture firm Corstorphine & Wright has announced the completion of ‘The Scoop’, a unique concave office building in Southwark, London. The innovative design reuses an existing building and integrates a conical cut-out facade in white glazed bricks, creating a playful and novel response to the site's context and neighboring church.

Situated in the vibrant Union Street Conservation Area, the building stands as a testament to modern architecture while respecting the heritage of its surroundings, namely the adjacent Grade II-listed Church of Most Precious Blood, whose circular window is now strikingly framed. The nearby Union Theatre, Jerwood Space, and Flat Iron Square further add to the rich cultural setting of the building.

 

The design retains the significant south-facing and corner return of the existing facade, blending it seamlessly with a new build extension. This detailed approach ensures a successful integration into the neighborhood, adding to the area's creative and artistic reputation.

Working closely with the forward-thinking, community-minded building owners, ThomsonHillsBalfour Limited (THB), Corstorphine & Wright has created a truly unique building, which is captivating passersby following its recent unveiling.

   

Key Features Of ‘The Scoop’:

  • Reuse and reconfiguration of an existing four-story office building to create prime, Category A office space, with a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

  • Side and upward extension of the building to increase the existing office space and create a roof garden with panoramic views over some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

  • Striking semi-circular void cut into the south facade, creating a 'visual bridge' that connects two divided views.

  • A ground floor that aligns with the facade of the adjacent Roman Catholic church, a Grade II-listed structure built in 1892 by Frederick Walters.
David Crosthwait, director at Corstorphine & Wright, said, “The whole team is proud and excited to share this project. The design of the scooped facade has allowed the building to be extended out in front of the church through a symbiotic relationship that protects and enhances the prominence and visibility of the church while providing a one-of-a-kind office headquarters. It was important for us to honor the cultural and historic context of the area and respect the neighboring church building, ensuring its visibility and reverence. The resulting building is a carefully orchestrated balance, allowing its neighbors to shine while also shining itself and adding to the vibrant architectural and cultural variety of the area.

None of this would have been possible without the vision and support of our client, who embraced the project and stuck with it through its challenges. It’s a great accomplishment to reach this point, and we feel the finished result is a testament to the role that bold design can play in enhancing our city.”



The client and building owners are delighted with the finished results.

“Creating unique office spaces in a thoughtful and sustainable way was of huge importance both to us and our conscientious, forward-thinking tenants, MMGY Global. We wanted to enable the teams working in the spaces to enjoy their environment and feel proud to be considering the local community, residents, and businesses when developing the project,” said Amanda and Peter Hills, Balfour, and Steve and Sarah Thomson of THB.

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About Corstorphine & Wright
Corstorphine & Wright is an award-winning architectural practice with a team of expert architects and designers across eleven studios and is ranked at number 14 in the AJ100. We design to create that elusive ‘must-have’ quality, translating requirements, constraints, and opportunities into places that are more than the sum of their parts. That way, you get intelligently designed places—places that invigorate communities and maximize long-term civic and commercial value.


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