itting across the table at his showroom in
London’s Portobello Dock, Tom Dixon looks nervous.
It’s not the prospect of the interview; Dixon is a
seasoned interviewee, with over three decades’ worth
of design prominence. Any perceived nerves come
from the anticipation of what’s to come. His studio is
about to embark on a very special – and logistically
complicated – project: the full relocation of its office,
showroom and restaurant to a new home in King’s
Cross. An especially designed space featuring added
functions, key collaborations and the chance to
connect even more and better with the wider public
make for exciting plans; although, by the designer’s
own admission, it’s all a little daunting to organise
alongside the day job.
The location is The Coal Office, a long, industrial
brick building on the southern edge of Granary
Square, running alongside the canal, just off
Heatherwick Studio’s upcoming Coal Drops Yard.
The existing structure seems larger than it actually
is, its lightly curved footprint being fairly narrow,
yet it nevertheless boasts some 1,640 sq m, as well as
a mix of internal environments. There are both high
and low ceilings, access to the outdoors, and some
almost underground spaces, these last in the brick
arches that once connected the building – constructed
in 1851 and home to the area’s coal and fish goods
offices – to the city’s waterway transportation system.
Here, come April, Dixon will launch his new
headquarters, an extensive design hub that will not
only house his research and development studio, but
also production facilities, and friends of the brand.S
The designer searched far and wide to find the right
place for this new home. When the studio’s Ladbroke
Grove landlord decided to sell, Dixon was faced with
a choice; staying, which would actually involve moving
out temporarily, while the premises were being
redesigned; or permanently relocating. He opted for
the latter. A move felt organic, as the studio was fast
outgrowing its space. The team had been looking for
a second location for a while, for more floorspace and
increased visibility for the retail business.
At the same time, Dixon had been picking up signs
of a sea change in the retail landscape. ‘It’s now a
cliché to say you will merge online and physical retail –
this we have to do – but I want to make a visit more
engaging, richer and more complete by adding new
tastes, new smells and more textures to it.’ So now,
part of the design studio and the workshop will be
visible to the public.
As a location, King’s Cross ticked all Dixon’s boxes
and then some. ‘We go from being on a private estate
to a one of the busiest new districts in London – a
hundred or a thousand times the footfall – we don’t
know!’ he says. So a restaurant will be found on the
building’s first floor, spilling out onto a long terrace
offering a spectacular overview of King’s Cross,
from Coal Drops Yard’s curving roof, to the nearby
Gasholders development (W*196) and further housing
beyond, towards the north. Next to it and beneath, »Architecture
ABOVE, INTERIORS ITEMS IN
THEIR PACKAGING IN ONE OF
THE FUTURE OFFICE SPACES
BELOW, THE ARCHES THAT
WILL HOUSE RETAIL
SPACE FOR DIXON’S OWN
PRODUCTS AS WELL AS
COMPLEMENTARY BUSINESSES∑ 113