london based architects orms presents its completed conversion of the former brutalist camden town hall annexe in king?s cross to the contemporary hotel, the standard. developed in partnership with crosstree real estate partners, the project marks the iconic brand?s first foray into the united kingdom market since launching in the united states. responsible for exterior shell and core, orms converts the former theater-turned-office building to a contemporary boutique hotel, retaining and cleaning the original brutalist concrete frame with its distinct rounded windows.

image courtesy of orms
 
 
on behalf of crosstree and the standard, london-based orms works alongside interior designer shawn hausman design and interior architect archer humphryes. the original tinted-windows in their iconic rounded rectangular frames are replaced with clear glass while the building?s corner condition expresses rounded panes with high-grade acoustic specification to combat noise from the traffic below. the existing precast concrete panels which make up the facade serve as an integral structural element which can neither be removed or altered without significant structural remodelling.
image © timothy soar
 
 
in the project conversion, orms removes the stair core and the concrete enclosure at roof level that once linked the annexe with the adjacent camden town hall. while this connective element allowed physical access between between the two buildings, it blocked views throughout the...