The Centro Building

Piercy&Company was commissioned to redesign the tired entrance and streetscape of a prominent Victorian red-brick warehouse in Camden. Originally built as a furniture depository, The Centro Building is now home to the offices of a number of fashion and design companies.

Weaving influences from the building's heritage in the furniture trade with its light industrial aesthetic, the reception design is based on a palette of profiled black timber, patinated steel, a calming terrazzo floor, felt lined alcoves and a birch ply coffered ceiling to create a richly detailed yet peaceful space. Within the felt lined alcove a long oak and leather banquette blends into a recessed coffee point creating a comfortable space to wait or work, animating the reception space.

To give the building a stronger identity and clarity at street level a new glazed steel canopy was installed above the entrance to the redesigned reception. This intervention was complemented with high signage around the building, helping to give the building a clearer identity in keeping with the existing building.