138 -142
Holborn Bars, Former Prudential Assurance Building,
London
Architect
|
Alfred & Paul
Waterhouse
|
Date Built
|
1879 - 1901
|
Location
|
138 -142 Holborn
Bars
|
Description
|
Formerly the
headquarters of the Prudential Assurance
company, this building on Holborn Bars was
designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed
at the beginning of the 20th Century by his
son Paul.
Over the years the red terracotta building
has been renovated on a number of
occasions. The Skyscraper News website
says that, "By the 1930s the Victorian
Gothic building was increasingly dated,
both inside and out. E.M Joseph was
brought in as the architect for this
renovation and remodeled the exterior
with the terracotta that one can see
today. Numerous Gothic Revival interiors
were stripped out and replaced by
Art-Deco furnishings making it more
fashionable again. " They
add that, "Holborn Bars was renovated
again, this time in 1993 by EPR
Architects whose overhaul of the
building led to an increase of internal
space from 34,931 square metres to
39,948 square metres. Although not
occupied by the Prudential today (they
left in 1999), they retain ownership of
it over one hundred years on."
EPR say of their involvement that,
"The brief was to refurbish the existing
building to provide approximately
170,000 square feet of high quality
speculative office accommodation and
achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. ...
the refurbished entrance hall provides a
transitional reception room between the
historical square and the modern spaces,
ideal for informal meetings. The
specialist lighting scheme aides to draw
the visitor through the entrance hall
with its unique original faience
columns, to the main atrium and
reception desk at its base."
|
|
