Building conservation award goes to Sixty London gatehouse

A City Heritage Award for Building Conservation has gone to architects KPF and the City of London Corporation for the rebuilding of the Sixty London gatehouse and restoration of the adjoining Holborn Viaduct. The schemes, which were completed in the Autumn of 2013, were honoured for their high standard of craftsmanship and finish. Sixty London replaces Bath House, a former mixed-use development designed in 1967, and rebuilding the northeast gatehouse, destroyed during the Second World War, was a crucial part of the KPF design. The gatehouse re-establishes the original symmetry of four gatehouses which historically stood at the intersection. The new office building comprises 212,000 sq ft of office space from Basement to ninth floors and is designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. It also won the ‘Best Large Commercial Building’ category at the London region Local Authority and Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards in May.

Historical sensitivity was a primary concern for the entire development. Careful analysis of the existing gatehouses and a rigorous approvals process informed the design to ensure the gatehouse stood as an exact replica of the original.

The level of detailing is exemplary, including the intricate yet substantial hand-sculpted statue of Sir Hugh Myddleton crafted specifically for the design. The full range of natural stone used was quarried within the United Kingdom and all sculptural elements carved by local craftsmen.

According to KPF Design Principal John Bushell, “KPF is honored to be recognized by the City Heritage Society. As a team, we were fully committed to safeguarding the historic fabric of this important gateway to the City. The gatehouse was a crucial part of our vision, restoring the original grandeur of the intersection and developing a vibrant sense of place to an area in need of regeneration.”

The Right Hon. Lord Mayor Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE will be unveiling a City Heritage Society plaque on the reconstructed northeast gatehouse at 60 Holborn Viaduct on the morning of July 7th 2014.