DSDHA design a new HQ for Alex Monroe

Exterior view of the building sandwiched between a shop (Mountain Kit) and a pub (The George), photographed during the day from across the street — Architecture firm DSDHA has designed a creative HQ in South London for jeweller Alex Monroe. Photography: Luca Miserocchi

(Image credit: Luca Miserocchi)

Acclaimed jeweller Alex Monroe has moved his HQ to a smart new infill building on an unremarkable stretch of south London’s Tower Bridge Road. London architecture firm DSDHA has replaced a tumble-down three-storey building – which housed offices – with a four-storey structure measuring just 4350mm wide at the front and 4500mm at the back.

The architects specified a skin of horizontal blades in Corten steel – whose surface has been shot-blasted – to contrast Alex Monroe Workshop with the local brick vernacular, and in particular the pub and shop on either side. ‘It acts as a veil between AMW and the street,’ says Monroe of the skin, ‘and makes the building secure.’

An interior level of the building featuring birch faced plywood panelling, tables and chairs next to in-built wall shelvess; grey walls and black staircase — The metal bespoke staircase was built by Essex-based blacksmith Thames Architectural

Behind the blades are vast glass windows, which along with the partial glass ceiling of the ground floor workshop, let in plenty of daylight. Immediately behind the glass is a metal bespoke staircase built by Essex-based blacksmith Thames Architectural. ‘We have used the space between floors and staircases, and the many landings to improve communication among the 20 staff based there,’ says Deborah Saunt, co-founder of DSDHA.

In the workshop, workstations are positioned facing each other down the centre of the room – an unusual arrangement for a jewellery-maker, where it is more typical to have benches facing the walls. The pale furniture throughout is made of birch faced-plywood. The three floors above house offices, with Monroe based on the top floor. Monroe, who has collaborated with institutions including the V&A, says of his next collection: ‘It will reflect the new building: brave and exciting.’

The building’s architect DSDHA designed Monroe’s Snowsfields studio and boutique nearby in 2012. Across the two sites Monroe has a total of 50 staff. ‘We tend to hire art school graduates,’ he says. Meanwhile, Saunt is now turning her attention to the area around London's Tottenham Court Road, where she is leading a £32m project to improve the public realm, in anticipation of Hawkins/Brown’s new Cross Rail station opening in 2019.

Exterior view of the building featuring dark bornw horizontal blades in Corten steel sandwiched between two brick buildings, photographed from across the road — The architects chose a skin of horizontal blades in Corten steel – whose surface has been shot-blasted – to contrast the workshop with the local brick vernacular

An interior view of part of a residential home featuring birch faced plywood panelling, two levels of black steel stairs (one on the right and one on the left) and large windows with black panels by the staircase — The open staircase allows light from the street side to filter through into the workshops and offices at the back of the building

An interior view of part of a building featuring birch faced plywood panelling, with picture frames on the walls, black staircaseand a large window by the stairs with black boarders. — Birch faced plywood panelling and furniture features throughout

Interior view of the workshop featuring birch faced plywood panelling, work stations down the center of the room and in build wall shelves — Workstations are positioned facing each other down the centre of the room

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the DSDHA website

TOPICS

Clare Dowdy is a London-based freelance design and architecture journalist who has written for titles including Wallpaper*, BBC, Monocle and the Financial Times. She’s the author of ‘Made In London: From Workshops to Factories’ and co-author of ‘Made in Ibiza: A Journey into the Creative Heart of the White Island’.