The Design
The principle design objective of the refurbishment was to provide a high-quality and well-designed public/commercial space, which would successfully increase footfall by maximising visibility for those people looking in.
Following valuable onsite discussions with the planning officer and various project assessments, we proposed that the new glazed entrances should have openings as high and wide as possible to make the arcade feel like a public space.
This involved making the surrounding frame minimal, which would improve the views through the building, using automatic sliding doors with clear laminated glass to achieve the contemporary design.
Proposing a stainless-steel finish to the pilasters and clad door head frame, the sliding door mechanism would attract people into the arcade.
Only using materials that reflected the heritage and character of the site, we developed lighting concepts that lifted the ambience inside the building, rejuvenating the façade by highlighting the impressive ‘di sotto in su’ style ceiling portraits.