Hawkins\Brown has completed the renovation of a former factoryat 3 Haberdasher Street in London for British menswearaccessories manufacturer and acclaimed maker of qualityhandmade ties, Drake’s.

It is a significant renovation project, restoring a classic 1930sbuilding in a prime location on the corner of East Road andHaberdasher Street in the heart of East London’s Tech City neighbourhood.

The 4,320 sq m six-storey building relocates the company’sClerkenwell-based workshop and Rotherhithe-based distributioncentre and consolidates these services into a new Londonheadquarters dedicated to the design, manufacture, distributionand administration of the business (the flagship store remains onClifford Street, W1S). The development also includes prime officespace and apartments for rent.

The scheme, designed in close collaboration with Drake’s,celebrates the light industrial aesthetic of the former factorybuilding, whilst reflecting Drake’s commitment to tradition andcraftsmanship through material specification and detailing.

The new double glazed Crittall windows are a prime example of thisapproach. Hand-made locally in Critall’s factory in Essex, theyreplace uPVC windows, reinstating the original glazed curve on thecorner of Haberdasher Street and East Road. A herringbonepattern, ubiquitous in traditional British fabrics, is a recurring motifin the detailing, from the original wire cut bricks to the oak parquetfloors and the terrace decking.

The building is accessed from Haberdasher Street with an entrancedirectly into a factory shop displaying a selection of ties and men’saccessories. The ground floor also includes an administration areafor 16 desks, a meeting room and a warehouse with adjoiningspaces for packing and distribution. Areas are subdivided byglazed Crittall screens to provide visual connection across thespace.

In recognition of Drake’s strong and loyal workforce and thecompany’s desire to create the best environment for its employees,the design studio and workroom occupy the first floor in a freeflowingnon-hierarchical layout. Whilst fabrics and patterns for tiesand accessories are designed in the studio, the tie manufacturingprocess takes place in the workroom, with individual workstationsfor 18 separate quality checks.

Also located on the first floor, the staff canteen is a bright airyspace that features two long tables to enable and encourage theemployees of Drake’s to take their lunch together.

Hawkins\Brown’s refurbishment opens up the original building,stripping it back to its concrete frame whilst retaining and reusingoriginal features including a caged lift and balustrades in thestairwell, port hole windows, concrete canopies and the streetfrontage clock which has been refurbished with Drake’s branding.

Concrete ceilings and columns are exposed to show the material ofthe building. Suspended ceilings have been removed and serviceducts bored through the original structural beams to increaseceiling heights. Oversized disc pendant lights detract fromoverhead services and serve to unify the entire floor, creating asense of non-hierarchical workspaces. Glazed Crittall partitions areutilised internally to create a light-filled and spacious workingenvironment with extensive views out. Floors are polished screed, arobust and durable finish to withstand the constant movement oftrolleys being wheeled between workstations.

Built-in furniture has been tailor made by Hawkins\Brown in closeconsultation with Drake’s Operational Director Chris Tanner.Crafted from MDF panels, the black units and white washed wallsprovide a monochrome backdrop to the brightly coloured fabricson Drake’s production line.Accessed via a separate entrance on Bevenden Street, the schemealso comprises prime office space for rent on the 2nd floor.

A third entrance on East Road gives access to Crafters House, theresidential aspect of the development. Located on the 3rd and 4thfloors of the building, it comprises nine apartments with access to acommunal roof terrace. Drake’s directors - Mark Cho and MichaelHill – have taken occupation of two of the nine apartments, therebyreinstating the British tradition of living above the shop. Theremaining seven apartments are being marketed as rentalproperties. Each apartment, two of which are duplexes, has aunique floorplan. All are finished with high quality fittings - includingoiled oak parquet flooring, black Smeg freestanding fridges andopen plan kitchen/diners, creating a warehouse aesthetic inkeeping with the entire redevelopment.

Refurbishment & renovation of existing warehouse and offices including structural alterations, up-grading external envelope and internal fit out to provide warehouse, office and residential use.

Drakes are one of only a handful of traditional tailors still designing and tailoring ties by hand in the UK. Their existing 1930’s building on Haberdasher Street in Hackney was transformed to accommodate Drakes creative, manufacturing and business operations. A studio, office accommodation, and nine apartments complete the mix of uses within the regenerated warehouse.

Works included strip out of the existing building including removal of asbestos and existing services, structural alterations to form reconfigured internal space and new internal & external openings, upgrading external envelope works which included cleaning of the existing brickwork, repairs to existing concrete lintels and cills, repointing brickwork, removal and installation of new Crittall windows, removal and installation of new roofing including provision of new roof plant area enclosed with acoustic louvre screens, timber roof decking with roof landscaped areas for residents and an internal fit out including new M&E services, lift installation, new screed floors, acoustic floors, floor finishes, new internal walls and finishes and new ceiling finishes to provide office, commercial and residential space.

The internal fit-out comprised the fit-out of the Drakes commercial space, a Grade A office space on second floor level and the residential units on the third and fourth floors which included kitchens, bathrooms and fitted bedrooms.

The project was completed in two phases. Phase one involved the works to the basement, ground and first floor areas which were to be occupied by Drakes Tie Company. Phase two ran concurrently with phase one and involved the works to the office space and residential units on the second, third and fourth floors. Community engagement

One particular challenge to this project was its location. As the building was situated on a highly restricted London city centre site, this led to constraints to be overcome in order to keep to programme. The neighbouring area included businesses and residences, therefore noise pollution was an issue and site hours were restricted.

All construction works that involved scaffolding, traffic management, road closures, pavement closures or the use of cranes had to be permitted by Hackney Borough Council. We co-ordinated with the Council and neighbours, always ensuring a permit-to-work where necessary, providing information leaflets and collaborating with the neighbours to ensure considerate construction. Following project completion, we now have a close working relationship with Hackney Borough Council and the surrounding businesses/residents.

Sustainability initiatives of development

The energy strategy approach to this development embraces Part L1B and Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 for the residential and PartL2B for the commercial. Overall, the energy statement follows the ‘lean-clean-green’ energy hierarchy whilst demonstrating a significant contribution to reducing existing CO2 emissions. • Firstly, reducing energy demands by improving the performance of the fabric and equipment beyond part L and then applying renewable energy technology. • Air source heat pumps were installed for the residential units in order to deliver green aspects of the energy hierarchy. • A chiller was installed for the commercial floors to replace existing split air conditioners with a modern efficient chiller. • The air source heat pumps will provide onsite renewable energy and reduce the residential carbon dioxide emissions by 25%. • Each residential unit benefits from good daylighting levels as well as beneficial solar gains during the winter. • The residential fabric significantly exceeds the requirements of Part L 2010 and includes; very high performance windows to control solar gains whilst allowing adequate daylight and outlook; well insulated and airtight envelopes to further manage thermal transfer. • Internal layouts are considerate of the aspects and support reduced energy demand. • The previous roof had an insulation value (U 0.6) that did not comply with the Building Regulations (U 0.18). The redevelopment significantly improved on this to achieve a U value of 0.15. This in turn benefits the upper residential floors. • Previous windows had an insulation value (U 5.6) which also did not comply with Part L. New Crittall windows installed now meet the criteria (U 1.8 overall).