6 Pancras Square Office, AXA Kings Cross Central Development London Building, Argent

6 Pancras Square Office Development Kings Cross Central

AXA London Building: Google UK – design by Wilmotte & Associés, Architects

9 Dec 2015

6 Pancras Square Office Development

Design: Wilmotte & Associés

6 Pancras Square Kings Cross Central

6 PANCRAS SQUARE – LONDON – UK

photo © Steve de Vriendt

Wilmotte & Associés international design practice has completed in January 2015 the 6 Pancras Square, a 49,385m2 office development on Argent’s 67 acre Kings Cross Central development. Exceptionally well connected with major railway stations, the building is an important component of the ground-breaking Kings Cross Central mixed-use development. The building, which has been developed by BNP Paribas Real Estate on behalf of AXA, has already been let to Google as part of their permanent relocation to Kings Cross.

photo © Edmund Sumner

6 Pancras Square’s exterior has a linear regularity that pays homage to the site’s industrial heritage. To relieve its deliberately monolithic presence, four glazed vertical fractures give the impression of different buildings by breaking up the massing. In line with the overall Pancras Square development, the building is subject to planning restrictions limiting its height. To comply with this, the 13 storey split-level development is massed onto three tiers and the structure is stepped, rising from south to north, with terraces on the eighth and eleventh floors that provide outdoor communal space and privileged views looking over the distinctive roof of John McAslan + Partners’ iconic new Kings

photo © Steve de Vriendt

Cross station, and across the City of London. The ground floor reception area and striking light-filled atrium provide a semi-public walkway linking St. Pancras International Station with Pancras Square and the entire area to the east of the station.

photo © Edmund Sumner

The striking façades are supported by an elegant black anodised aluminium framework clad with hand assembled terracotta tiles that create a rich and dynamic contrast to the other glazed areas. The black aluminium frame articulates the massing and the proportions of the modules relate intentionally to the other buildings on the plot. The simple and tectonic approach to the framework draws on the language of Victorian industrial architecture to reflect the history of the former railway yard. The curtain wall system is a re-interpretation of the local load bearing masonry with its interwoven metal frames and terracotta infills.

photo © Edmund Sumner

Vertical fins running along the piers convey depth to the facade and become a dynamic feature that casts shadow and alters the building’s appearance throughout the day.

photo © Steve de Vriendt

Visitors walk into a dramatic reception with an eleven storey glass atrium measuring 25m x 13m. The atrium spans the entire height of the building and is glazed at roof top level. The result is a cylinder of light at the heart of the building providing daylight into the office floors. On each side of the atrium there are two fully glazed scenic lifts with no metal joins, providing unobstructed views of the office levels.

photo © Edmund Sumner

All the office spaces are designed to create a feeling of light, connectivity and fluidity with 360 degree views directly out and through the central glass atrium to the other side of the building.

The architects specified natural ‘noble’ materials throughout. These include anodised aluminium, textured stone marble and terracotta.

photo © Steve de Vriendt

The lights in the atrium were specially designed by Wilmotte & Associés who is also a well-known product designer as well as a leading international architect.

photo © Edmund Sumner

The reception area walls are clad with imposing sheets of striped marble from Marmara that are 3m tall and arranged to have a sweeping, curtain-like appearance next to an impressive white marble floor.

photo © Edmund Sumner

The building has been designed to the highest environmental standards and specification, reaching BREEAM Excellent.

photo © Steve de Vriendt

6 Pancras Square Development Kings Cross Central – Building Information

ADDRESS:
6 PANCRAS SQUARE – LONDON KINGS CROSS

CLIENT:
BNP PARIBAS REAL ESTATE

AGENT:
BNP PARIBAS REAL ESTATE UK

CONTRACTOR:
VINCI UK

CONTRACTOR’S ARCHITECT: ADAMSON ASSOCIATES

DESIGN TEAM:
ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGNER – WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS ARCHITECTES
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING – AKT II
M&E – HOARE LEA
PLANNING CONSULTANT – GERALD EVE
QUANTITY SURVEYOR – GLEEDS
LIGHTING – WILMOTTE & ASSOCIÉS ARCHITECTES
LIFTS – KONE

AREA:
GROSS INTERNAL AREA: 49,385M2
NET INTERNAL AREA: 34,339 SQM
COMMERCIAL OFFICE: 32,140 SQM
RETAIL: 1,000 SQM

TIMELINE:
DATE OF THE COMMISSIONING: DECEMBER 2010
BUILDING PERMIT DELIVERED: 25 NOVEMBER 2011
DATE START ON SITE: JANUARY 2013
COMPLETION DATE: JANUARY 2015 (PRACTICAL COMPLETION)

image © Wilmotte & Associés

6 Pancras Square Office Development Kings Cross Central images / information from Wilmotte & Associés

6 Pancras Square Development Kings Cross Central – post from 16 Apr 2013

6 Pancras Square Office Development Kings Cross Central architects – Wilmotte & Associés, Paris, France

Steve De Vriendt Photography

Edmund Sumner – London based Architectural Photographer

Location: 6 Pancras Square, King’s Cross, London, England, UK

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