The scheme provides public spaces that attract a varied audience, encouraging social interaction.

Redevelopment of the site at 245 Hammersmith (formerly Bechtel House) provided a unique opportunity in Hammersmith’s Business Improvement District (BID). The reconfiguration of the site, in collaboration with Sheppard Robson architects, created an opportunity to step the building back from Hammersmith Road, allowing for a new streetscape that is linked to a large plaza at ground level. The plaza leads through to an elevated podium garden, with a funicular lift mediating the 8m level change between the two spaces.

The vision for the site was to create verdant flexible spaces that extends the office environment into the landscape through a series of external meeting rooms and a large open lawn that allows for gatherings and functions. Connecting the existing buildings surrounding the podium garden, including Novotel Hotel, and providing appropriate spill out space from the internal uses provides for a series of complementary landscape spaces. A mezzanine terrace at level one provides further spill out space from the new building.