Designing for context: How Lamb Street reflects local heritage
Part of a wider development in Spitalfields, East London, Lamb Street is a two-storey mixed-use commercial project completed in 2023, with an award-winning design inspired by local history.
Location: London
Completion: 2023
Architect: Foster & Partners
Façade engineer: Eckersley O’Callaghan
Specialist contractor: Nueco
Main Contractor: VolkerFitzpatrick
Photo credits: Entrant to the 2024 Excellence Awards.
Products: FWS 50+ SG (structural glazing) aluminium curtain walling, Jansen VISS SG (structural glazing) steel curtain walling, AD UP 75 doors
The success of the project was in part down to the close collaboration of those involved. Designed by Foster + Partners, Lamb Street was delivered in collaboration with architect Bond Bryan, main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick, specialist façade contractor Nuëcø Façade & Glazing Solutions and Schüco.
In a nod to the area’s historic warehouses, the development features a striking red oxide steel frame and an impressive double-height entrance. The first floor hosts a large commercial unit, while the ground floor is made up of smaller retail and food kiosks with built-in kitchens, located along an existing service ramp. The kiosks boast fully glazed storefronts, keeping them connected to their vibrant surroundings.
David Kong, Partner at Foster + Partners, explained: “There are two key features that underpin the design of the façade. The first is articulating the industrial character of the area with an expressed structure, exposed fixings and an appearance of a red oxide steel finish. The second is minimising the glazed framing system, to suppress the glass and sub-framing in order to further enhance the exposed steel frame.
“Early in the design process, the question of how to protect the expressed steel structure from fire was raised. Input from the contractor’s specialist paint supplier, Sherwin Williams, allowed the design team to achieve the preferred finish and colour choice, ensuring that the structure stands out while complying with fire regulations.”
A specialist façade approach
Installed by Nuëcø Façade & Glazing Solutions, the project features both aluminium and steel curtain walling systems from Schüco, as well as Schüco AD UP 75 doors with concealed hinges and full-height pull bars with up to RC2 security. The upper floor and ground floor shopfronts are constructed with Schüco FWS 50+ SG (structural glazing) aluminium curtain walling. All the transoms are sleeved with steel inserts and there is a combination of glazed-in louvres and bespoke projecting fins attached to the curtain walling.
Tom Gibbons, Managing Director of Nuëcø Façade & Glazing Solutions, spoke positively about working with Schüco during the project: “Schüco were hugely supportive. Their extensive testing data combined with the technical ability of their systems allowed us to take the façade to the next level.”
One particularly impressive aspect of the building is the double-height entrance, which utilises Jansen VISS SG (structural glazing) steel curtain walling. Gibbons explained that the team had to devise a tailored approach to adapt the steel system to the project requirements:
“In order to allow the Jansen VISS SG steel curtain walling in the atrium to be unsupported laterally, we developed a specialist bracket connection known as the ‘toast rack’. This enabled us to create a moment connection, so we could sway with the building without pushing up. In addition, we had to splice the mullion to appear unsupported in one length and then cloak it to appear seamless on the inside (welded studs on the transom ends facilitated easier installation of this element).
“For the building’s glass-to-glass corner joints, we had to create 45-degree side supports that could be used in conjunction with the ‘winged’ Schüco SG curtain walling. This allowed us to maintain the glass edge support and get really good sight lines in the corners with two back-to-back mullions.
“The building’s exposed steel structure was conceived as a key element of the overall façade aesthetic. This meant that the curtain walling had to sit behind it, creating all sorts of weathering and installation issues. Careful planning and clear installation drawings allowed curtain walling units weighing up to 800 kg to be precision installed to the highest standard.”
Gibbons also commented on the challenges the team faced developing a strategy for the aluminium curtain walling:
“The large glass panes were a challenge in terms of weight and loading for the aluminium FWS 50+ SG curtain walling system. This necessitated bespoke glass support and fully sleeved mullions in order to keep deflection within CWCT guidelines. The bespoke and reinforced curtain walling system enables the glass panes to be the same height and width as the structural steel openings, ensuring good levels of daylighting and views out.”
Gibbons also explained that use of glass coatings and the avoidance of thermal bridging through careful detailing helped to achieve the desired U value of 1.4 W/m²K for the building envelope.
Another challenge came with the steel’s fire-protective coating, which in a fire has the potential to expand up to 50 times, requiring the architect to work closely with the fire engineer, structural engineer and façade contractor to accommodate this.
Collaboration is key
Project architect Win Duong from Bond Bryan explained that collaboration was key to bringing the project to life:
“To ensure success, we prioritised collaboration, in terms of early engagement with the façade team, regular meetings and 3D modelling. Initial meetings addressed critical topics, such as sequencing, access and scheduling, helping to identify and resolve potential issues early on. 3D models were instrumental in refining the façade design, enabling the team to better visualise and coordinate complex elements, identify clashes and address buildability concerns.”
Lamb Street is a prime example of how early engagement and close collaboration with all of the stakeholders, including Schüco, paves the way for achieving the best outcome for the project, right from the start.
