Oxford Street (House of Fraser)
Adaptive repurposing of a heritage building to a mix of new uses
The iconic former D.H Evans (House of Fraser) department store on Oxford Street is reimagined as a vibrant, mixed-use development. Approved proposals will refurbish and extend, rejuvenating the building and celebrating the elegance of the Art Deco style and its proportions. Designed for flexibility, opportunity and adaptability, the plans include the provision of new, attractive shopfronts to enhance the retail experience, extensive refurbishment of the existing Portland stone façade, and the creation of highly flexible, open floorplates for flexible use.
Client: Publica Properties
Location: London
Size: 34,000 sqm (GEA)
Value: Circa £65m
Status: Design Stage
The existing sixth and seventh floors will be demolished and replaced with three new floors. Large, flexible, commercial office floor-plates on floors six and seven, with the eighth floor housing a new 1,000 sqm restaurant boasting 360 degree views across London, complete with access to external terraces.
Through a heritage-led approach, proposals are designed to preserve and enhance. New facades are consistent with the style, detailing and materials of the existing building. A set-back eighth floor is a lightweight extension which complements the existing building, providing an elegant and defined crown without appearing dominant.
On Old Cavendish Street and Henrietta Place, two new double-height entrances are introduced, marking the way to an internal ‘street’ within a double-height entrance hall and lobby at ground floor level, giving access to the new office space above. Part of the basement, ground and first floors will house a new gym with a 25m swimming pool.
A series of winter gardens on floors two to five provide a sense of being outdoors for office users. In addition the incorporation of additional plant and risers has allowed for increased ventilation rates to improve the health and wellbeing credentials of the development, an important addition for post-pandemic life.
Addressing the wider context, urban realm improvements will see footways widened and de-cluttered, resting spaces for seating and shade created, and paving upgraded to be attractive, accessible and comfortable. With no current public access from Chapel Place, the elevation has, until now, been treated as ‘back of house’ or a secondary façade of lesser importance. Activating this, and all the other facades, will create a permeable ground floor that will see the building form an integral part of the Council’s vision for the Oxford Street District.
The proposed development is targeting BREEAM Excellent, WELL certification and WiredScore Gold.
