Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - FacadeCentral St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - CityscapeCentral St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Windows, Facade, Garden, CourtyardCentral St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Windows, FacadeCentral St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - More Images+ 14

Text description provided by the architects. The proposed concept for the site was to transform a single-use office building into a genuinely mixed use development incorporating office, retail, restaurant and residential use; seeking to create a new destination integrated within the local area.

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Windows, Cityscape, Facade
© Michel Denance

The architects chose to situate the buildings around a new courtyard in the center of the site, which is connected by a publicly accessible route and ground floor public uses to the surrounding streets and spaces.

© RPBW Site Plan

The key elements of the scheme were to introduce activity into the area, provide a mix of uses particularly retail, restaurants and housing introducing daytime and night time surveillance, and creating a properly managed and controlled environment which is reflected in the urban design approach to the layout of retail units, spaces and pedestrian routes.

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Facade

Design team: J.Moolhuijzen, M.van der Staay (partner and associate in charge), N.Mecattaf (associate) with L.Battaglia, S.Becchi, A.Belvedere, G.Carravieri, E.Chen, D.Colas, P.Colonna, W.Matthews, G.Mezzanotte, S.Mikou, Ph.Molter, Y.Pagès, M.Pare, L.Piazza, M.Reale, J.Rousseau, S.Singer Bayrle, R.Stampton and M.Aloisini, R.Biavati, M.Pierce, L.Voiland; O.Auber, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (models)

© RPBW Sketch

Located in Camden, the project is part of a complex urban patchwork of medieval streets, modern buildings and traditional urban blocks. This environment had a dramatic impact on the design of the project.

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Facade, Windows
© Michel Denance

The scheme is composed of complex volumes, which are characterically chiselled fragmented and reduced in scale to match the surrounding buildings. These chiselled volumes mad St-G an impressive architectural sculpture characterized by a combination of shimmering facets.

© RPBW Sketch

Each facet is unique, differing in height, orientation, color, and relationship to natural light. Glass, steel and ceramic are the primary elements of the skin. In each fact the ceramic is used in different shade and colors that respond to the surrounding building, thus helping to integrate the scheme in the immediate urban environment.

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Brick, Facade

At the core of the scheme there is a large courtyard, where the public activity is concentrated with its cafes and restaurants this piazza will generate social life, thus enhancing the urban identity of the site. A six-meter full height glass facade provides a maximum of transparency, five passages through this courtyard allow a permeable scheme and invite passers-by to this piazza shaded by a 20m high tree.

Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects - Image 12 of 19
© Joost Moolhuijzen

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:St Giles High St, Westminster, London WC2H 0, UK

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Central St. Giles Court / Renzo Piano + Fletcher Priest Architects" 17 Jan 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/104147/central-st-giles-court-renzo-piano-fletcher-priest-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

中央圣吉尔斯法院 / Renzo Piano

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.