We were thrilled to see coverage in the trade press of the completed transformation of Space House, one of London's Brutalist architectural landmarks. Working with BAM, Millcroft provided scaffolding to support the significant structural changes to this Grade II landmark building.
Built between 1964 and 1968, Space House – sometimes referred to as Centre Point's "little sister" – was designed by architect George Marsh at Richard Seifert & Partners. Space House and Centre Point were the first buildings built in London without scaffolding.
Space House's striking concrete grid façade features a circular tower linked to a rectangular block on Kingsway in Covent Garden with a bridge. The building was left empty for several years until it became home to the Civil Aviation Authority, who rented it for 44 years until 2019. Seaforth Land then acquired the property, bringing the building back to life with an extensive redevelopment.
The renovation included significant exterior work, adding two floors to the 16-storey tower and a new single-storey extension to the Kingsway block. Millcroft's scaffolding enabled the removal and repositioning of the original roof slab and the addition of 48 cruciform concrete sections, extending Space House's height whilst maintaining its architectural integrity. Externally, the original façade was carefully cleaned and restored, preserving the unique patina that gives the building its distinctive character.
Inside, the refurbishment brought Space House back to its mid-20th-century roots, restoring many of the original features that had been altered during previous refurbishments. The entrance stairs, terrazzo floors, and teak-clad walls have been reinstated in keeping with the original materials. New features include high-quality workspaces, a race, a roof terrace and a clubhouse with shared facilities for tenants.
The finished project has created 255,000 sq ft of high-quality work and retail space and achieved exceptional environmental standards, becoming the first listed building in London to receive BREEAM certification.
