Club London Bridge | TILT

Club London Bridge represents the third phase of development of Club Workspace, a London wide network of coworking spaces for start ups and free lancers.  TILT led the architectural design and restoration that also features a number of bespoke pieces in the form of furniture and lighting designed by TILT.

Through researching the etchings and illustrations from the original Leather Exchange all architectural elements are inspired by the machines and apparatus from this time.  These are reinvented from a 19th Century industrial context into a distinct contemporary working environment.

The agenda was to create a sense of place – a design that would accommodate 24hour usage, changing throughout the working day, characterised by a number of new design interventions that would expand coworking increasingly staid aesthetic.

Bricked up openings are removed to let natural light inside, restoring the light wells allowing new doors to open and air to flow through.  This ensures that the space is naturally ventilated.

Internal brick walls were restored through removing the paint by sandblasting.  A plywood ceiling was removed to reveal the original oak structure which is also sandblasted.  The oak joists differ in tone and gradient as a consequence of a fire in the 19th Century.  The floor also tells the story of the building through hieroglyphics and scarring from over 200 years of use. This is restored through the application of a clear matte varnish.