Leading UK architectural practice John Robertson Architects (JRA) has completed the fitout of 6 Arne  Street, a 4,500 sq ft former retail unit which forms part of the wider Grainhouse complex, for Helix – a  Hines company. A 91,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme, the Grainhouse is comprised of a former Victorian seed  warehouse situated in the heart of Westminster’s Covent Garden and is a key asset within the townscape  protected by the Covent Garden Conservation Area. 

The site on which the Grainhouse sits has a long and rich architectural history, reflected in both the  building’s external architecture and its internal design. It features a ‘warehouse aesthetic’ with prominent  Crittall windows, exposed London brickwork and large opening bays opening directly onto neighbouring  streets. JRA was commissioned to design the CAT A and CAT B fitout of part of the ground and lower  ground floors for Helix’s new UK headquarters.  

Using a considered approach to space planning, JRA’s design team created a new entrance, reception, and  lobby as well as workspace for Helix’s 70-strong team and meeting rooms and amenities for staff, including  a kitchenette and break-out areas. Responding to the client’s brief, JRA has introduced a ‘hospitality’ feel to  

the new space in a design which follows a palette of neutral colours and clean lines while providing a  joined-up coherence with Hines’ HQ in the spaces directly above. 

JRA’s structural interventions have been adapted to meet the building’s existing conditions while  consciously retaining as much of the Grainhouse’s heritage as possible. The building’s historic warehouse  usage is also reflected in the unusual ceiling heights found across the office space. JRA’s design approach  had to deal with the challenges of the existing building where the entrance was designed for loading seed  and grain directly from a horse and cart, thus having a split height entrance with connections to dispatch  into the basement. 

To address this, floor heights were connected via a new feature staircase with references to the industrial  heritage of the building. JRA were conscious to soften some of the industrial materials through acoustic  curtain interventions and a neutral palette scheme. 

Other features of JRA’s design include: 

• Two new staircases which serve to link floors at irregular heights, and to provide maximum  flexibility for occupiers. Reflecting the external Crittall windows, these new staircases use iron  railings whilst the design for the balustrade echoes the space’s historic use in ‘grain-shaped’ cutouts  
• A large kitchenette space, with associated soft furnishings, which aims to provide a break-out  hospitality area for staff  
• Isolation pods, increasingly requested by employees who have become used to the amenities of  remote working 
• Extensive urban greening elements, introducing sensitive planting into the wider, industrial-themed context 

Reflecting Helix’s wider ESG aspirations, Grainhouse has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent,  WELL Platinum Certification, and WiredScore, and is targeting Net Zero in its operations. In line with these  aspirations, JRA’s design aim was to reduce wastage as well as reusing a significant proportion of Helix’s  existing furniture, including the retention of all desk chairs and artwork. 

Angela St Clair-Ford, Director of JRA’s Edinburgh Studio, says: 

“We’re proud to have delivered one of the final touches in the regeneration of the Grainhouse Unit E. A  legacy commercial asset, located in a challenging and protected built environment, our work with Helix on  this project is a great example of what JRA does best. It’s been great to work with a client that is acting as  the custodian of this heritage building, and we were delighted that they have chosen our space as their  home for the next 10 years. 

We believe that our design has transformed a structurally challenging, multi-level, space into best-in-class  working environment. Taking into account Helix’s office ethos and use requirements, we’re embedded a  softer, hospitality-like approach into our design, which is consciously juxtaposed with the building’s  industrial heritage.” 

Rick Slater, Head of Property Management at Helix, comments: 

“We were absolutely delighted to hear that the ‘dream team’ of JRA, Keyshel Interiors, and HartDixon were  working together on this project. Having now had time to reflect on the fitout, I realise what an amazing  office JRA has created for us. I can’t thank you enough for your inspiration in terms of design and quality,  we are really pleased with what’s been achieved, and we are proud of being able to share this with our  Hines colleagues and clients”