The transformation of 184 Shepherd’s Bush Road into a contemporary workspace serves as a prime example of adaptive reuse, resonating strongly with this year’s theme of The Recycled City. Originally constructed in 1915 as a Ford Motor Company garage, the Grade II-listed structure was thoughtfully preserved and reimagined, blending historical integrity with modern innovation. The project, led by ColladoCollins Architects, retained key elements of the original building, including its brick façade, while adding a visually stunning three-story extension under a glass dome. This innovative roof structure, comprising over 30,000 square feet of custom-designed glass panels, combines historical inspiration with cutting-edge technologies, providing solar control and thermal efficiency while creating a striking architectural centrepiece.

This redevelopment exemplifies the principles of adaptive reuse by breathing new life into a building that had fallen into disrepair, avoiding the environmental cost of demolition, and conserving the embodied carbon within its original materials. The dome itself—a diagrid structure featuring both transparent and opaque panels—highlights how sustainable design can blend seamlessly with heritage architecture, ensuring functionality while maintaining aesthetic continuity. Now serving as the European headquarters for Dunnhumby, the building has revitalized its surroundings, transforming a neglected site into a vibrant workplace and a community asset.

In the context of The Recycled City, this project symbolizes the potential of thoughtful design to merge history with modern needs, embodying a holistic approach to urban sustainability. The 1.150 model seeks to reinterpret the building in gingerbread, with a festive twist; opposed to being a former Ford Motor Company factory, the gingerbread building resembles an industrial hub whereby Santa’s sleighs are manufactured. The Christmas scene adorning the front of the building highlights this, with the building itself being made of gingerbread, detailed in icing. To encapsulate the roof, a custom-moulded isomalt dome has been crafted, which is then piped to capture the diagrid nature of the buildings’ roof. Together, the gingerbread model seeks to celebrate the revitalisation of 184 Shepherd’s Bush Road, while adding a fanatical, festive twist!