The Poulton

Sector

Office Building

Location

London, UK

Year

2023

Architects

Bennetts Associates

Client

FMDC

3D Illustrations

Bennetts Associates

Mayfield, a 26-acre site by Piccadilly Station, is transforming into a vibrant destination through placemaking initiatives. ‘The Poulton,’ a key early scheme, will set the tone for design and innovation at the site’s gateway. Named after 19th-century swimming advocate George Poulton, the building will embody community, public gathering, and wellbeing.

‘The Poulton’ is named after George Poulton, a ‘world-renowned amphibious man and champion scientific swimmer’ who made himself famous in the 1850s as a promoter of public health at the Mayfield Public Baths, which originally sat on the site. He gave swimming lessons, ran sporting events and encouraged the public to understand the health benefits of regular bathing by giving exhibitions of underwater acrobatics and performing stunts such as drinking pints of milk underwater. The new building will echo the same spirit of public gathering, community and wellbeing.

Our role was to inform the early façade design and touch base as to the potentials and limitations of different façade alternatives. In more detail:

Touch base with the Architectural intent and examine the performance of the currently considered façade configurations.
Discuss the different considered solar control mechanisms: (1) glass type, (2) glass size, (3) glass frit density, and (4) movable shading. Explain their potential benefit on peak solar gains and suggest ways forward to serve both design intentions and performance.
Map a number of solutions that meet the set solar gains target: briefly report the characteristics of each solution to be discussed with the design group.