Trade Street, Cardiff 

Situated in a central urban location, this four-storey office development was heavily constrained by existing buildings flanking, and supporting, the already small site.

The existing building on site was partially demolished and redeveloped within the existing ‘skin’ of the current building, and above.  

The layout was split into three distinct blocks – front, middle and back. The front portion comprises the reception on the ground floor, office suites at first and second, and an office suite at third that leads out onto a roof terrace. The rear element contains additional office suites at all levels. The middle block contains the central lift and stair core and WCs which allows easy access from all office suites.

The external appearance of the building is made up of large rectangular openings with simple rhythms and good amounts of glazing, designed in a contemporary manner. The building was finished in materials that are in keeping with the character of the area – red brick and dark grey windows. However, the top floor uses contrasting materials and has been designed in a more contemporary manner against the historical stock of the street.