Change of use can be the best way to transform old buildings without having to demolish them. It is better for the environment and can save properties with cultural and aesthetic significance. However, not every building is a viable candidate for this. It is particularly true with office to resi conversion. As one of the top names for residential architecture in London, we want to take a closer look at which buildings offer the best potential here.

The issues

Large office blocks present a number of challenges that make conversion into homes difficult. For starters, they can simply be too big and technically challenging to convert. Big floor plates in particular can cause a lot of issues. Plus, the layout of floors can mean the homes will be too small or too dense.

A major problem is the lack of street exposure. In built up urban areas with lots of tall buildings, this can be seriously lacking. What it means is it can be incredibly difficult to allow light and air to penetrate into the building. Both are vital for housing. Many tall buildings lack the exposure and those that do may not even have operable windows.

There are also concerns about being able to adapt spaces in these large buildings to create individual homes. It can require changes to utilities like plumbing, gas lines, electrics, and more. There can also be question marks about things like lifts because they may not be necessary with a big reduction in footfall.

Best properties

While there are challenges, some properties do have a lot of potential to become housing. The best ones tend to be smaller, older structures. Buildings with four or five storeys can be ideal. Those from post WWII can be really attractive prospects.

The street exposure is crucial here. Buildings with two sides that have fronts on open spaces are ideal. It can allow the creation of homes with excellent lighting and ventilation.

Location is also important. Ideally prospective buildings should be close to dense urban centres but not in the busiest spots. The idea is to get the balance between being close to prime locations but not in them where it can be really noisy for residents.

The ultimate goal is to find properties that are economically and technically viable for conversion into quality homes. Good design can help here, even with newer tall structures. Things like cutting new internal courtyards can be useful for example.

Talk to us about residential architecture in London

Office to resi conversions are reaching a sweet spot at the moment. The number of empty buildings can bring the price down. It will make them cheaper to purchase for developers. They can then look at options to convert them into the housing people desperately need.

At Coffey Architects we understand the potential issues with these projects. However, we also have the skills and creativity to try to find solutions. We can be the perfect partner for creating exceptional residential architecture in London. So, contact us and let us know what you have in mind.