94 High Street
Location: Wimbledon Village, London SW19 | Value: £1m | Status: Complete |
Client: Peacock & Co Solicitors | Contractor: Glynn Workspace |
Structural Engineers: Elite Designers | Interior Design: Host | Photography: Chris Snook
A full refurbishment of this five storey Victorian Office building for Peacock & Co Solicitors.
Host Architecture was appointed to reconfigure and refurbish their offices at 94 High Street, Wimbledon Village.
The project focused on improving how the building works for staff and visitors, making better use of the existing floor area, and creating a more welcoming client-facing environment in a prominent High Street location.
The existing office building had a strong presence in the heart of Wimbledon Village, but the internal layout was inefficient and difficult to navigate.
Poor vertical circulation, steep stairs, tight winders and low handrails made movement between floors awkward. The basement was largely disconnected from the rest of the building and offered significant untapped potential.
Unlike other offerings Host have been transformative to our office rebuild, providing elegant designs and clever solutions to problems renovating a period property to incorporate fast-changing fire and accessibility provisions.
The 3D visuals and drawings are unlike others we have seen and proved incredibly helpful. Not only have Host provided architectural expertise, they have informed our entire design choices and provided invaluable time-saving contributions to selecting final finishes. On a personal level, James has been incredibly communicative and available to our needs.
Client feedback from Peacock & Co
The brief was to transform the building into a more efficient, accessible and professional workplace for a busy local solicitors' practice.
Key aims included improving connectivity between floors, bringing the basement back into use, upgrading client meeting areas, rationalising staff spaces, and creating a more coherent experience throughout the building.
Basement Conversion & Open stair
A major part of the project was the adaptation of the existing basement into usable office and meeting space.
By introducing a lift between the ground floor and basement, the lower level became accessible to both staff and visitors, allowing the building to offer a wider range of client meeting rooms and amenity spaces.
A new open stair was introduced between the ground floor and basement to create a stronger visual and physical connection between the two levels.
The design required careful coordination with the fire strategy, balancing openness and connectivity with the need for a safe and compliant office environment.
PLANNING IN WIMBLEDON VILLAGE CONSERVATION AREA
94 High Street sits within the Wimbledon Village Conservation Area, where external alterations require a sensitive approach.
Although much of the project was internal, the proposals included a new shopfront and a second-floor roof terrace. Host managed the planning process in full, including the development of multiple shopfront design options.
REPLANNED OFFICE FLOORS
The upper floors were fully replanned to create more efficient staff accommodation.
A new, more private stair now serves the office floors above, separating staff circulation from the more public-facing ground floor and basement areas.
Structural alterations were developed with Elite Designers, allowing the building to be reworked more effectively within the constraints of the existing fabric.
ROOF TERRACE
A second-floor roof terrace was included as part of the planning application and approved under delegated powers.
The terrace provides valuable external amenity space for staff, making better use of the existing building and improving the quality of the workplace.
ACCESSIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE
Accessibility, fire safety and building compliance were central to the development of the scheme.
The project involved replacing poor existing stair arrangements, improving access to the basement, and carefully considering how staff, visitors and clients move through the building.
For Host, the technical resolution of these issues was as important as the visual design.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FINISHES
Host also developed the interior and lighting design for the project, working closely with Peacock & Co throughout.
This included finishes, fittings, lighting, sanitaryware and bathroom design. Each floor was treated individually, giving the building a more tailored and less generic office feel.
A WORKPLACE WITH CHARACTER
The interiors combine professional office functionality with a warmer and more personal character suited to Peacock & Co’s long-standing presence in Wimbledon Village.
Different finishes and details were used across the building to create variety, while maintaining a coherent overall approach.
From the start James was inspirational in his ideas and we felt in safe hands…
Undoubtedly we wouldn't be where we are without James's input in design, but also his experience with the local planners, building regs and fire safety.
James (and Chloe) have both been proactive, responsive and supportive throughout. We are endlessly grateful and can't wait to move in.
A very heartfelt thank you!
Client Review