Coal Drops Yard.

The vision was to transform the unique Victorian brick structures into a breath-taking space filled with boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars, surrounded by vibrant public realm. Building on the unique and creative culture already established at King’s Cross, the development will be one of London’s most distinctive must-visit locations. It's a comfortable, adaptable, and sustainable space that respects the heritage of the site, all while delivering value for King’s Cross.

Working closely with Heatherwick Studio and Argent, we developed the early-stage design to obtain planning approval, crafting a robust energy and sustainability strategy. Throughout the base-build and fit-out, we helped to ensure that Coal Drops Yard achieved a BREEAM Very Good rating, while maintaining the flexibility it required. We recognised that the unique merging of the two gabled roofs demanded a performance-based approach, so we tested and validated this unique environment for everything from pedestrian wind comfort and safety to daylight access.

We have worked on some of the country’s leading retail destinations and we combined this with our experience of heritage buildings to help refine the brief. The historic chimney stacks were used to conceal catering extract and heat rejection systems, and a network of underground services were designed to interlink the buildings across the site. By hiding the service corridors to each of the retail units in the existing building fabric, the structure's historic architectural characteristics were integrated seamlessly into the new design. The added success? The historic buildings have been preserved for future generations, in keeping with the Victorian spirit of industry and innovation – but repurposed for a sustainable future, and able to deliver retail operational requirements for years to come.

People can now visit Coal Drops Yard for the first time in its exciting new form. The central yard, under the 'kissing point' of the Eastern and Western coal drops buildings is a space in which the visitor experience is taken to the next level – creating drama, energy, and entertainment for people. Ultimately, this cutting-edge sustainable environment will rewrite the rulebook on shopping experiences.