Space House

Space House, in Covent Garden, was designed by Richard Seifert and Partners, and built between 1964 and 1968. This futuristic building comprised a 16 storey cylindrical tower and an 8 storey rectangular block, connected by an elevated walkway. Previously refurbished in 1996 and 2003, the Grade II listed building has now been retrofitted and restored by Squire and Partners, who stripped out many of the previous interventions to reveal the original architecture.

The thermal performance of the building was improved through the use of high performance glazing and a smart heating and cooling system, making this the largest listed building in the UK to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification for sustainability.

Last October, I visited Space House with a group from the Greater London Architecture Club, when we were shown round by project architect Cindy Wong.

A key feature of Seifert’s design was the use of cruciform precast concrete blocks. These structural elements gave the tower its distinctive appearance, but also enabled fast and low-cost construction. During the latest retrofit, additional floors were added. By replicating the concrete blocks, this was achieved without significantly impacting the facade.

The entrance lobby is beautifully designed, contemporary but with a mid-20th century feel.

A view of one of the upper floors in the tower, awaiting occupation by new tenants. The false ceilings installed by a previous occupant have now been removed to reveal the original concrete ceilings where services can be installed:

Ground floor at the base of the tower, showing the y-shaped pilotis:

In one of the rooms, some graphics from the 1960s:

If you’d like to learn more about the restoration of Space House, Cindy Wong, project architect from Squire & Partners, and Younha Rhee, sustainability expert from Atelier Ten, will be giving a talk at the Isokon Gallery on 9 April 2026: Restoring Space House - a 1960s London icon. Tickets available from Eventbrite.

Space House
1 Kemble St, London WC2B 4AN
https://spacehouse.london/

See also

Squire & Partners. ‘Space House’.