The Elegant Fitzrovia : A Showcase of Precast Concrete Façade Design
The Fitzrovia, located on Tottenham Court Road in London, is a striking example of how modern construction techniques can blend seamlessly with the historic character of its surroundings. Positioned at the intersection of contemporary developments and the area’s Victorian and Edwardian building stock, the six-storey, mixed-use development provides a rejuvenated space that complements the architectural heritage of the locale. The new building replaces an unsalvageable 1960s structure with 65,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space and 11,000 sq. ft. of retail space, showcasing how thoughtful design and material choices can achieve aesthetic and functional excellence.
A key feature of The Fitzrovia is its intricate façade, which is clad in three distinct facing materials. The standout element is the celadon-glazed terracotta, which enhances the scalloped bays along the Tottenham Court Road and Bayley Street elevations. Moving to Morwell Street, the design transitions to premium residential units featuring a brick-clad frontage, while a distinctive grey basalt base ties the varying elevations together. This carefully considered design bridges the divide between contemporary functionality and a historic aesthetic, creating a cohesive and elegant structure.
Precast concrete was chosen as the primary construction solution after extensive exploration of other façade design options, including unitised curtain wall systems and SFS with rainscreen cladding. The decision to use precast concrete was driven by its ability to accommodate the complex scalloped profiles and curved nature of the design. The material’s robustness provided a solid substrate for the terracotta tiles, eliminating the need for additional subframes and reducing the quantity of materials used. The non-combustibility of concrete also made it an ideal choice for the residential component of the project, where fire safety is paramount.
Sustainability was a fundamental consideration throughout the project. The Fitzrovia achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification and was awarded a 5-Star NABERS Design for Performance rating. These achievements were underpinned by innovative material choices, including the use of Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS) in the concrete mix, which saved 25,000 kg of CO2, and Basalt Fibre Reinforcement (BFR) in place of steel mesh, which contributed a further saving of 30,000 kg of CO2. The offsite manufacturing approach significantly reduced urban disruption, with fewer construction deliveries and less noise and dust in the busy London environment.
The precast façade panels were manufactured and installed by Decomo, working in collaboration with contractors Kier and PCE to bring the architects’ vision to life. The façade incorporates a range of elements, including donut-shaped panels faced with extruded terracotta tiles, brick-faced sandwich panels, and a robust precast concrete backing. The offsite Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) process ensured precision and quality, with over 2,100 units produced for the project. The large panel sizes allowed for up to six installations per day, enabling rapid progress and ensuring the building envelope was made weather-tight within just 26 weeks.
The Fitzrovia project exemplifies the benefits of modern methods of construction. The use of precast concrete enabled faster installation, improved health and safety with reduced working at height, and minimised material waste. With only 25 operatives on site at any given time, the project demonstrated the efficiency of offsite construction and the capabilities of the precast supply chain across the UK and Europe.