‘The design quality of this scheme promises to set a welcome precedent for future improvements to the character of Hampstead Road’

The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road is a 17,300m2 NIA mixed use development containing workspace alongside 17 homes, cafes, restaurants and shops. A potential new health centre may also be provided. Built upon the existing foundations and ground floor slab, the building will deliver an increase of 6,800m2 NIA on the site.

The building has been designed to promote wellbeing, embracing biophilic design principles with an abundance of controlled natural daylight and fresh air. It will be filled with gardens and planting alongside office space, with a “forest floor” to the atrium spilling into the reception of the building.

A feature stair in the new atrium will encourage occupiers to walk between floors and promote chance encounters as people move through the building. Biophilic features, including double-height pocket gardens and landscaped roof terraces, will provide flexible workspace and moments for informal working and reflection, alongside social interaction and breakout spaces. Natural materials that meet the highest BRE Green Guide ratings will be specified wherever possible, adding to the BREEAM Excellent accreditation.

Responding to the hierarchy of the streets, the extensively glazed façades of the proposed building will feature a mix of natural stone on the Hampstead Road elevation and warm coloured brick on Drummond Street. Architectural metalwork will be applied to details throughout.

A feature full-height glazed “lantern” façade on the corner of Drummond Street and Hampstead Road, with an eye catching three-dimensional pleated pattern of glass panels that will highlight the building, visually connects to the Tottenham Court Road and the West End beyond. Retail units and cafes will occupy the ground floor of the building, creating meeting places for the public and the building’s occupants.

The development will create 17 homes on the site, comprised of 11 homes for the London market and 6 at social rents. The proposed homes account for 50% of the planned increase in floor area on the site. The existing NHS clinic already established on the site will also be offered premises within the new building.