Grow had already been exploring concepts for improving the space between John Lewis and House of Fraser in New Cavendish Street, off London's Oxford Street, when we were invited by the New West end Company to compete for this comission.
Our concept was to create a comfortable but simple and contemporary café building with open seating in a pocket size landscaped square out front and a bank of public toilets discretely tucked behind. The building would use an exposed glulam structure with largely glass walls to give a sense of space and also a natural feel to the interiors as something of an antidote to the hardness and hustle and bustle of the West End.
In the end we were pipped to the post by KPF, a large American architect practice, but it was great experience for Grow and we look forward to the next opportunity to combine our graphic and architectural design skills.