Dickson Architects refurbished four office floors at 42–48 Great Portland Street in Fitzrovia, London. The scheme creates open-plan workplaces with new tea points, reconfigured WCs and a shower on each floor.

The design draws on the building’s origins as a textile factory. Blackened steel-framed reeded glass screens, exposed brickwork and reclaimed metal lockers bring an industrial character to the interiors. The original beech herringbone flooring was restored, retaining an important part of the building’s character and making use of existing materials.

Exposed services, surface-mounted galvanised conduit and matching perimeter trunking complete the approach, combining practical workplace requirements with the character of the existing building.