Bloom, Clerkenwell, London EC1

JRA created the concept designs for the new office building over the Crossrail station at Farringdon for international workspace provider, HB Reavis. Bloom Clerkenwell replaced the original, obsolete 1970s Cardinal Tower building originally situated on the site.

The plans comprised 13,377m2 of office accommodation, retail and landscaped roof terraces, with a focus on wellbeing throughout the development. In keeping with the diverse neighbours, JRA recommended a palette of materials including faience, terracotta and anodised aluminium that gives the building a clear, contemporary identity. To ensure that the development also integrates with Farringdon West Station, JRA worked closely with Crossrail’s engineering team to create the plans, ensuring that all technical requirements were met.

The project is exceptionally sustainable and was the first building in the UK to achieve WELL Platinum certification, BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and WiredScore Platinum. Following the concept design, JRA performed a monitoring role for HB Reavis.

Bloom Clerkenwell is situated in the heart of London, at Farringdon, a key transport interchange where London Underground, Thameslink and the Elizabeth Line intersect. The building joins the ‘Cultural Mile,’ contributing premium retail space at ground level and embodying the area’s ethos by championing wellbeing and connectivity.

JRA engaged with the Elizabeth Line engineers from the earliest design stages to create an integrated building capable of being built above a vast new underground rail network. This required tremendous flexibility and futureproofing in anticipation of long term connectivity and sustainability requirements.

The use of red terracotta is a discrete reference to the use of faience on some of London Underground’s stations. The different colours of terracotta used at Bloom are also inspired by the rich context of surrounding buildings in Clerkenwell and Hatton Garden. The building incorporates façade elements of smaller, human scale, to engage with passers by, and panel glazing to welcome the outside in.

Internally, JRA prioritised high-quality natural materials such as timber, taking a paired back approach to the fit out of communal areas that carried through the sustainable ethos of the project and put warmth and wellbeing at the heart of its interior design.

CAT A floor space across six storeys is complemented by ‘Ready to Work’, a turnkey managed co-working space. Occupier and building services are joined up by the state of the art Bloom app. All floors are technologically resilient, reflected in the Wired Score Platinum certification, awarded for exceptional infrastructure and connectivity.

The building is designed to be futureproof, with flexible floorplates and enhanced airflow and amenities that can adapt to changing demands in occupancy and use.

Terraces span 1,400m2, 11% of the building’s area, one of the highest ratios for a UK office building. The landscaped spaces offer places for work, relaxation, socialising, and events, with edible planting, flexibility for shading and semi-external use and breath-taking views across the city skyline.

Bloom Clerkenwell sets a new standard for sustainability. It is the first office building in the UK to achieve WELL Platinum, BREEAM Outstanding and Wiredscore Platinum. Contributing interventions include generous cycle provisions, abundant biodiverse outdoor space, energy from Citigen, solar photovoltaics, and responsible waste management and water consumption. Bloom also has an EPC rating of ‘A’ and aims to be net zero in use.