fathom architects completes 1970s-inspired workspace and social hub in london

6 babmaes street, an imaginative uplift of a 1970s building 

6 babmaes street is a retrofitted hub of a disused 1970’s building in st james’s, london, dedicated to networking, events, and wellbeing activities. fathom architects had a creative brief from their client, the crown estate, to provide a standalone collaborative and social space for their office clients who occupy buildings nearby. celebrating the raw concrete shell of the existing building and combining it with finely crafted interiors has created a characterful urban sanctuary with a variety of spaces for people to connect and recharge. 

a modern retro palette of bold colors and geometric shapes

fathom architects took inspiration from the heritage of st james’s and 1970s art and furniture – with commissioned rugs, paintings, and murals drawing on geometric shapes and bold colors. as a result, a mixture of upcycled vintage and contemporary furniture and finishes underline the modern retro palette of 6 babmaes street. the design team, moreover, created a distinct spatial character by counterbalancing textured retro materials like hessian, fluted glass, and macramé with more refined crafted finishes such as curved timber joinery, polished terrazzo, and brushed metalwork. for a final touch, suspended acoustic ceiling panels finished with timber and rattan hang within the existing structural frame.

spaces within 6 babmaes street include a wellness studio (doubling as space for exhibitions or pop-up events), banquette seating booths, meeting rooms, dining spaces, lounge areas and a roof terrace with a jungle themed meeting room, planted screens and festoon lighting. the roof space creates 200sqm of ecologically richness to enhance local biodiversity and air quality, as well as reduce rainwater run-off.

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project info:

name: 6 babmaes street

location: westminster, st james’s, london
design: fathom architects

client: the crown estate

date: 2017-2021

area: 625sqm

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