Making a feature of Harella’s vintage charm at this former Clerkenwell factory
Harella House, located in London’s Clerkenwell, has undergone a refurbishment and extension. Chait Investment entrusted BW, CBRE, Piercy&Company and exigere with the task of transforming this 1930s warehouse and former clothing factory into flexible office space.
The building’s original character was concealed beneath decades of unsympathetic internal office modifications. Piercy&Company removed these elements, as well as layers of brickwork and concrete, to reveal and celebrate riveted steel columns, perimeter brickwork piers, and concrete encased beams. This process created an authentic and characterful palette of materials.
To shape the interior detailing, the team researched the heritage of the Harella brand for inspiration. The interior colour palette now reflects echoes of the Harella company’s distinctive hand-painted advertising posters and fabrics, incorporating shades of grey-green and warm oak with accents of black.
The refurbished building now offers 33,443 sq. ft. of light-filled, flexible office space across six floors. It has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and a 47% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the original building.
This comprehensive office refurbishment has breathed new life into a warehouse building, repositioning it to meet the demands of the current market.
