The Printworks

An industrial-scale retrofit

As a part of British Land’s Canada Water Masterplan, the project will retain the building while transforming it into an innovative mixed-use destination.

Once known as Harmsworth Quays, The Printworks was home to the printing presses that produced newspapers including the Daily Mail and Evening Standard.

The proposed design celebrates many of the building’s original features, including the large press halls, the spine of the building, and the central void which will act as an atrium.

The proposed design draws on extensive research into repurposing industrial buildings to create an innovative, one-of-a-kind place. We took inspiration from the bold and functional form of the original Harmsworth Quay Printworks building to generate the architectural response; retaining as much of the structure and framework of the existing building means that we are minimising demolition and embodied carbon.