fathom architects completes 1970s-inspired workspace and social hub in london

6 babmaes street, an imaginative uplift of a 1970s building 

6 babmaes street is a retrofitted hub of a disused 1970’s building in st james’s, london, dedicated to networking, events, and wellbeing activities. fathom architects had a creative brief from their client, the crown estate, to provide a standalone collaborative and social space for their office clients who occupy buildings nearby. celebrating the raw concrete shell of the existing building and combining it with finely crafted interiors has created a characterful urban sanctuary with a variety of spaces for people to connect and recharge. 

reception area with a grid of turquoise and white terrazzo floor tiles and bespoke timber joinery

a modern retro palette of bold colors and geometric shapes

fathom architects took inspiration from the heritage of st james’s and 1970s art and furniture – with commissioned rugs, paintings, and murals drawing on geometric shapes and bold colors. as a result, a mixture of upcycled vintage and contemporary furniture and finishes underline the modern retro palette of 6 babmaes street. the design team, moreover, created a distinct spatial character by counterbalancing textured retro materials like hessian, fluted glass, and macramé with more refined crafted finishes such as curved timber joinery, polished terrazzo, and brushed metalwork. for a final touch, suspended acoustic ceiling panels finished with timber and rattan hang within the existing structural frame.

naturally lit wellness studio doubles up as events space for exhibitions, talks and pop up events

spaces within 6 babmaes street include a wellness studio (doubling as space for exhibitions or pop-up events), banquette seating booths, meeting rooms, dining spaces, lounge areas and a roof terrace with a jungle themed meeting room, planted screens and festoon lighting. the roof space creates 200sqm of ecologically richness to enhance local biodiversity and air quality, as well as reduce rainwater run-off.

four booths with sage green banquettes feature high and low level planting with natural light from above

each booth has custom-made furniture and a large scale commissioned mural by rob crabtree from aspire artwork

a lounge space for relaxation and socializing, with large rugs and a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces

two phone booths – lined with geometric patterned cork tiles – offer quiet space for calls and online meetings

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project info:

name: 6 babmaes street

location: westminster, st james’s, london
design: fathom architects

client: the crown estate

date: 2017-2021

area: 625sqm

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom