Architect behind first Second Home expands it by nearly a third
SelgasCano has completed a 15,000sq ft rooftop space on top of Second Home, the co-working space it designed in Spitalfields three years ago.
The new space has five private studios for large teams of up to 150 people, each with its own pool-filled outdoor terrace, as well as a rooftop bar, cultural venue and a public roof terrace.
The terraces contain ponds and more than 800 species of tropical trees and plants.
The ceiling of the large studios is covered with 10,000 colourful felt hats to provide noise insulation.
In 2014, SelgasCano, which designed the 2015 Serpentine Pavilion, converted the building on Hanbury Street into colourful co-working offices particularly aimed at creative start-ups.
With the new expansion, the space has now grown to 65,000sq ft and houses more than 200 creative organisations, including Kickstarter, Help Refugees, Artsy and Bulb.
SelgasCano has also designed Second Homes in Lisbon and Holland Park, the latter due to open in January.
The Spanish practice is also behind the East End bookshop Libreria and a school in Nairobi slum Kibera, both funded by Second Home.
Second Home was founded by former government adviser Rohan Silva and Sam Aldenton who said: “What’s so brilliant about SelgasCano’s designs is that everything has a purpose – like the way the felt hats increase the surface area of the ceiling and create a tranquil working environment for larger teams. We’re thrilled to have such a close working relationship with our architects – it’s a truly creative partnership, and every project we do together just gets better and better.”
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