24-30 West Smithfield, London EC1

Client: Whitbread

JRA has completed the conversion of 24-30 West Smithfield, a 1970s red brick office building into a 326 bed Premier Inn hotel for client Whitbread. Now known as Premier Inn London Farringdon, the project is situated on a constrained courtyard site on the corner of West Smithfield and Hosier Lane in the City of London, within the Smithfield conservation area. Significant neighbours include the iconic grade listed Smithfield Market and the nearby Barbican Estate.

JRA’s works included the refurbishment of the existing building and the creation of a large rear extension, making the building suitable for a contemporary central London hotel. The designs focused upon integration of the building with the surrounding streets, preserving the existing façade, and extending the new frontage on the Cock Lane elevation in a unified brickwork that picks up the surrounding materiality and colour palette. Internally, JRA created a large glazed atrium as a focal point from which circulation can radiate, and space for a number of communal amenities, including a bar and restaurant.

The delivery of the design was carried out by Axiom Architects with contractor Gilbert Ash.