FUTURE
MEETS PAST

VIEW FROM GREVILLE STREET

OUR ANCESTORS WEREN’T AFRAID TO RAZE TO THE GROUND AND REBUILD. WE’RE OF A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TACK. WE INTEND TO REDESIGN WITH THE NEXT GENERATION IN MIND WHILE KEEPING THE PAST IN OUR SIGHTLINE.

Through his acclaimed design practice Groupwork, Amin Taha achieved this by overlaying the current facade with a perforated brass veil shaped to look like eight 18th and 19th century buildings. This second skin acts almost as a mirage, wavering in the light – there but not.

An imperfect memory, the mesh overlay suspended around the core structure isn’t entirely faithful to the Victorian/Edwardian designs by Spencer W. Grant. But then, that was never the intention. Instead, this edited version seeks to narrate an ideal out of what was. We have more sustainable materials from which to create, more advanced technology with which to build – making it exactly the same as it was, would be missing the point of today.

The main structure has been sustainably developed by upcycling as much of the original as possible. By introducing LED lighting and first-rate insulation across the building, we go beyond that to ensure 8 Bleeding Heart Yard continues to be BREEAM-certified as sustainable.

A five-storey rear exterior and a two-storey roof extension have been added on to augment the space and invite more activity. From the outside, the building feels almost impermanent as the veil comes in and out of focus. A ghost of the past. But the reality is solid and firm.

Step inside and you’ll find everything the modern world can offer spread out across eight floors. Providing everything from office spaces and a diverse mix of eateries to a rooftop terrace, concierge and premium amenities, such as on-site shower facilities and bike storage, 8 Bleeding Heart Yard pulses with the life of today.