New Wave London . Thomas-McBrien Architects . photos: © Ståle Eriksen
Thomas-McBrien Architects and New Wave London have completed the adaptive reuse and expansion of the specialist high-end contractors’ existing headquarters in north-west London. The collaborative architect-contractor project was born from the long-standing working relationship between the practices, and exemplifies how adaptive reuse can achieve exceptional results when balancing architectural ambition with rigorous material reuse.
Reluctant to move out of the building due to the close ties to the neighbourhood and local community built over their 15-year tenure, New Wave London appointed Thomas-McBrien to review the efficiency of the existing layouts. The architects explored the potential of the existing headquarters, prioritising the retention of the two-story industrial building and minimising the embodied carbon associated with new construction. Embracing the concept of airspace development, Thomas-McBrien designed an elegant 600 square metre lightweight timber pavilion to sit atop the load-bearing perimeter walls, creating valuable additional floor space for New Wave London’s growing operations and additional local businesses without altering or expanding the building’s footprint.
As New Wave London’s primary headquarters, the expansion of New Wave House meets the contractors’ growing spatial requirements, encompassing a new area for the main office in the new timber pavilion. The revised plan also accommodates a large joinery workshop, spraying booths, a metal fabrication workshop, and general storage for materials and building supplies across varying levels. 785 square metres of flexible workspace has been created on the first and second floors, providing nine rentable units (40-105 square metres) for local small and medium businesses and start-ups. This directly addresses the critical demand for affordable workspace within the rapidly growing London Borough of Brent, with the scheme receiving enthusiastic support from planning officers due to its community contribution.
The lightweight structure respects the existing industrial building’s character while introducing a contemporary, elegant addition – a timber pavilion nestled amongst the trees. The natural warmth of the timber, craft-led detailing and innovative assembly serve to heighten the project’s architectural quality.
The project emphasises a low-technology, light-touch approach using cost effective and readily available materials. PEFC-certified Douglas-fir glulam became the basis for the new structure, selected for its environmental and structural performance. Glulam’s embodied carbon is less than 5% of a comparable light steel frame, while its strength, durability, and long lifespan reduce maintenance needs and in-use carbon costs. As a renewable resource Douglas fir grows rapidly and absorbs carbon dioxide, with each cubic metre of glulam sequestering over 700kg CO2e, significantly offsetting emissions. At the end of the building’s life, the material can be reused. By opting for a lightweight timber system, Thomas-McBrien was able to take advantage of the existing building’s load-bearing capacity to support the extension with minimal structural adjustments, while maximising the potential of the structure.
To ensure the external timber weathered appropriately, extensive research and experimentation was conducted, resulting in the application of a light-grey pigmented SiOO:X Wood Protector across the entire timber structure. The natural non-toxic wash yields a delicate, subtle colouration, which has been continued through the interior. True to Thomas-McBrien’s talent for material efficiency, unfinished Troldtekt wood wool panels were applied between the Douglas-fir joists, a readily-available, sustainable and less-expensive alternative to applying plasterboard and paint.
The headquarters remained fully operational over the two years of construction, thanks to an enclosed scaffold which enveloped the entire building. The team was able to build all year round, minimising disruptions to daily operations and keeping New Wave London’s projects on track.
New Wave London’s ground floor joinery workshop served as the base for manufacturing key components, positioning human-touch and craftsmanship to the centre of the design. The 13 metre lengths of Douglas-fir glulam were delivered in bulk and cut on-site in the New Wave London workshop, before being craned onto the roof. The project saw zero waste of any timber, all new windows, doors and joinery were also manufactured in the workshop using the glulam offcuts, contributing to a considerable reduction in the carbon footprint of the project.
Acting as resourcefully and conservatively wherever possible, Thomas-McBrien and New Wave London retained as much original build material as possible. The original 350 square metres of insulated roof panels were carefully removed from the existing building, stored on-site and reused on the new timber roof extension, reducing waste and maintaining the sustainable principles of the project.
The project is a case study in a holistic and impactful approach to material reuse, surpassing expectations of merely recycling. Timber salvaged and repurposed from other New Wave London projects was used for floor joists, studs, noggins and raised access floor supports, leftover lime render from a previous Aēsop retail project, which both parties had worked on together, was applied to the internal walls, and plasterboard and insulation diverted from landfill were repurposed throughout the project significantly reducing material waste. Salvaged sanitary ware and tapware were used in the communal bathrooms, while light fittings, sockets and switch plates were reused where possible, all sourced from previous New Wave London projects and stored on-site.
In addition, the existing building’s facade was externally insulated to improve its thermal performance, and passive ventilation integrations, such as effective low-tech shutters for cross ventilation were introduced, improving the overall energy efficiency of the envelope. Energy consumption data was collected for the entire building over a two-year period, covering 12 months before and 12 months after the timber roof extension’s completion and occupation. Energy use per square meter decreased by 25% compared to the pre-refurbishment baseline, a significant improvement given the 40% increase in floor area.
Thomas-McBrien also created space for a 100 square metre communal roof terrace, lined with native planting. A number of planters, made from salvaged waste material from previous New Wave London projects, were installed on the roof terrace. Improved landscaping to the front of the building provides habitat and food sources for pollinators, helping to support local ecosystems in the urban, light-industrial area. Careful measures were taken to make sure all trees on and adjacent to the site were preserved and safeguarded throughout construction.
In part, the success of the project stems from a decade-long collaborative relationship and friendship between Thomas-McBrien and New Wave London and their ability to manage a complicated and layered construction process. Thomas-McBrien and New Wave London’s pragmatic approach to sustainable reuse and focus on craftsmanship has created a building that epitomises the transformative potential of adaptive reuse and sustainable design, demonstrating architectural excellence and achieving significant environmental, social and economic sustainability outcomes. New Wave House sets a new benchmark in ‘rooftop development,’ offering an elegant and sustainable solution for new developments by maximising existing land use through upward expansion.
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