Transforming a Heritage Bike Shop into Modern Office Space

Location

London

Size

1,700 sq ft

Project

Office Fit Out

Duration

10 Weeks

In 1903, a mixed use estate was built by the Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII. More than a century later, one of those original units, formerly home to Daycocks Cycles and long since disused, has been given a new lease of life.

Our team was appointed to transform this historic space into a modern, two-storey office environment that would serve as the new headquarters for the Industrial Dwellings Society.

The result is a workplace that blends heritage with contemporary functionality, creating a thoughtful and striking addition to Stoke Newington Road.

The Brief

The client required a flexible workplace that could support the day-to-day operations of a modern housing association. The design needed to include:

Open-plan office space
Multiple meeting rooms, from small private spaces to board-level facilities
Breakout areas and tea-points
New WC facilities
A welcoming and practical entrance with a new shopfront

In addition to meeting operational needs, it was important that the space reflected the organisation’s rich history and strong brand identity. The new headquarters would represent a milestone in their journey, bringing them closer to the heart of the community they serve.

The Works

The project began with a full strip-out and demolition phase followed by extensive remedial works to repair the building fabric and clear the way for a fresh layout. From there, we implemented:

Structural repairs to replace rotten flooring and defective finishes
New electrical and data installations to support modern, flexible working
Modern LED lighting combining high efficiency linear fittings with industrial-style feature lighting
A VRF air-conditioning and ventilation system, ensuring high-performance climate control across both floors
Plumbing and drainage for teapoints and new WC facilities
Solid and crittall-style glass partitions, creating both privacy and transparency where needed
Contemporary floor finishes combining wood grained LVT with textured carpets
A redesigned shopfront, improving the building’s streetscape presence

Every element was considered not only for functionality but also for how it supported the overall character of the building, maximising full use of the space.

A New Chapter for
the Organisation

The completed project provides the client with a dynamic and welcoming headquarters, purpose-built to support their growth and deepen their connection with local residents.

The transformation from a disused bike shop to a modern workplace marks a significant milestone for IDS, symbolising renewed investment in their community and setting the stage for their future.

Today, the building stands as both a tribute to its history and a reflection of modern working culture, an eye-catching new presence on Stoke Newington Road that celebrates where the organisation has come from and where they are heading next.

A Design That Respects the Past and Embraces the Present

While the building’s envelope carried more than a century of history, the interior had suffered from years of disuse. We worked closely with the client to bring its heritage back into view. Existing ceilings and brickwork were carefully revealed and restored, creating a raw, textural backdrop that connects the building to its past. Industrial feature lighting was selected to complement this aesthetic, reinforcing the story of the site’s past.

Set against these historic elements, modern features such as the crittall-style glass partitions and high-efficiency VRF air-conditioning bring the space firmly into the present. This contrast between old and new became a defining narrative of the design and mirrored the client’s own evolution over time.