after announcing plans for a hollywood destination, set to open in summer 2019, second home has opened its fourth london location. heralded as a ‘family-friendly creative workspace’, second home london fields contains the enterprise’s first nursery location. designed by madrid-based firm estudio cano lasso, the building takes inspiration from the biophilic shapes and lightweight forms of german architect frei otto, who was best known for the tensile roof of the munich olympic stadium.

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan (main image © second home)

 

 

second home london fields is clad in a ‘bubble’ façade made from ETFE, a highly efficient woven fabric stretching across a free-form frame, amplifying the surrounding urban landscape. originally designed by victorian church architect james cubitt, the front of the building served as an education space from the 1970s while the rear, known as morley hall, was a former cinema, dance hall, and temperance house dating back to 1879.

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © second home

 

 

internally, estudio cano lasso retains second home’s trademark biophilic design with an abundance of plants, natural light, and stimulating colors. the spaces utilities clear partitions, floor voids, soaring ceilings – as well as signature features such as flying tables and a hanging plant system. the site runs on 100% green energy from second home member bulb. as well as its own members, second home also provides free space to local community groups and offer reduced prices to charities and social impact organizations. meanwhile, the on site nursery, which also occupies the building’s rooftop, has been designed by kennedy woods for N family club.

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © second home

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © taran wilkhu

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © taran wilkhu

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © taran wilkhu

cano lasso channels frei otto for second home's fourth london location
image © iwan baan

 

 

project info:

 

name: second home london fields
client: second home (founded by sam aldenton and rohan silva)
architects: estudio cano lasso
nursery architect: kennedy woods
nursery client: N family club
location: 125–127 mare st, london E8 3SJ, london
size of project: 25,500 sqf (2,369 sqm)
project cost: £5 million
environmental engineer: richie & daffin
structural engineer: webb yates
ETFE designer: lastra & zorilla
prime contractor: EXA s.r.l.
total number of plants and trees: 500
number of different chairs and lamps: 450
key architectural features: 20x20m ETFE facade, full glazed curtain wall system, 16 flying tables, biophilia hanging system filled with plants, 1.2m glass voids to connect floors, double & triple height spaces, custom lighting, transparency/translucency, on-site nursery and rooftop, cork acoustic panels, lightbox bar
key materials: polycarbonate, wood wool, ETFE
furniture: mid-century original chairs and lamps, howe 40/4 swivel chair designed by david rowland, cano lasso bar and bar stools