Originally built in the 1930’s as a Victorian Labour Exchange and located within Myrdle Conservation area in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, 19-23 Settles Street is a 2 storey Neo classical building. The host building consists of 3 parts, the main building and two adjoining arms, creating an eye catching curve.

The new development features a complete refurbishment of the original building and a new five-storey fully glazed rear extension providing additional workspace and a maximum connectivity between all parts. The building was last occupied by JobCentre Plus and the last fit out was obscuring the original fabric of the building. 

The Mill House space boasts 3m high exposed ceilings, raw organic materials and plenty of daylight. The design brief for the lighting scheme was a contemporary design with industrial feel and compliance with CIBSE guidelines. The luminaire used for the general office lighting was the Oka Suspended.

The Oka sets new standards in office lighting. Designed with attention to detail, it will impress the purists with its clean lines, slim body and a minimalist suspension system. The diamond microprismatic diffuser distributes a low glare homogeneous light. All office lighting was specified and supplied in a contemporary matte black finish. This highlights the black colour of the metal rafts and beams, while enhancing the industrial feel of the building. 

In the Italian Building, the tubular luminaires Nile Suspended were installed at an angle, and in clusters. The luminaires are crossing each other which creates a strong visual feature. The fittings were equipped with custom red cloth covered flex, adding a visual interest to the design and embracing the rich architectural character of the buildings.

Honesty and integrity were essential throughout the design and inspiration from the surrounding architecture and historic warehouse influences of the area. These elements can be seen in the simplicity of the organic materials, raw concrete details and high, exposed ceilings.

The lighting was supplied on time to the satisfaction of the client. The result is a creative and attractive 31,100 sq ft Cat-A space in keeping with the local area and emphasising the industrial heritage of Mill Street. 

The result is a stunning contemporary CAT A scheme with BREEAM Very good rating, designed with attention to every detail. The new extension sets a bold contrast to the host building and creates an impressive street presence.

It’s a welcoming space with high functionality, comfortable LG7 compliant office lighting and convenient location to the City of London. The 299 team are proud to have been involved with such an ambitious project.