Wheat Quarter – Welwyn Garden City

With our historic links as the architect of Welwyn Garden City we were asked to be part of a team of designers responsible for the masterplan and redevelopment of the disused shredded wheat factory site in the centre of the City.

Our design for a civic building includes community, health and office spaces in the centre of the complex which delivers a powerful architectural centrepiece that deliberately contrasts with the listed factory building.

Our building is designed as a simple dark glass block, clad with an irregular grid of projecting metal fins that create a visually interesting profile when viewed form anywhere on the site. The ground floor is set back from the upper floors to give the appearance of these floor floating above the ground. 

The dark glass and framing create a contemporary building, albeit with an industrial nod, in response to the previous use of the site.