The Brief:

Design a space for Push/Pull Studios, a retail & exhibition design

company. They currently have 15 full time employees and 2-6
external design consultants, but are looking to expand their num-
bers. Areas to be included in the design project are the following:

reception/ exhibition area

studio work space
large meeting room
two small meeting rooms
informal meeting areas
kitchen/ eating area
products/materials/sample library
archive storage
toilets/showers
outdoor space

“The Mall”
359 Upper Street
Islington, London
N1 0pd
This Grade 2 listed building can be found at the heart of Lon-
don’s Angel Islington area. Having been a fixture in there for
sometime, the building has had a multitude of uses. It was
originally used as a tram shed, it’s housed an antiques mall,
retail store and now will be home to PUSH/PULL studios.
Building Context: d

The building is centrally located to a variety of public transportation e

options Angel Underground Station (a) is located 381 m and Upper
Street (f), which is immediately adjacent to the site and allows ac-
cess to multiple bus routes. The Regents Canal and walking path
(b) are within easy walking distance. The building is surrounded by
a variety of pubs and restaurants (c) as well as being within walk- a
ing distance to local grocery and retail shops (d). The Business
Design Centre is located with in 600 meters to the building (e). e

c
a

Building Details:
While the building has changed over the years, it has still managed
to maintain much of its original character including steel beams (a)
which run the length of the building and date back to the original
construction. The parquet hardwood flooring (b) and brown ceram-
ic tiling (c), while neither is original to the building, both help to pro-
vide rich tones to the floors and walls. The most recent addition are
the glass panels (d) which have been added to the original roof line
and allow for more light to enter the now fully exposed ground floor.
President Studies & Images:
When I started my design research I looked at several different
offices, but found myself most drawn to those which all shared the
similar feature of a predominance of timber used in a variety of ways.
Concept: Concept images:
The concept for my design is reliant on the idea of the actions push
and pull. This then evoked for me the familiar imagery from the
timber game where players are required to push and pull the blocks
to create new and interesting spaces. I then purchased the game
itself, so as to make my own spaces and shapes. I also intro-
duced colors are reflective of those found in the parquet hardwood
flooring and ceramic tiles in the existing building. I then looked
for additional images which were able to represent this concept.
Concept Model:
I began to then explore with the blocks, I found ways to cre-
ate rooms and spaces with them. Eventually I decided that I
would prefer to use them in a more subtle way and then moved
to using the same element of timber on a smaller more pli-
able scale. I then began to create 1:100 models of different
rooms and spaces which incorporated the timber elements
along with the original push pull concept. I even looked at cre-
ating custom pieces, which would be able to carry the concept.
initial Planning diagrams
exploratory model
 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PR
Plans

small meeting
bike
room
storage
reception/ gallery
space

open studio space

Push/Pull Studios “The Mall” partners office

1:150 bathroom
Ground Floor

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

void to large meeting room

ground floor

4.0
kitchen/lounge outdoor
void to ground
area space
floor studio
Push/Pull Studios “The Mall”
1:150
First Floor
ATIONAL PRODUCT
sections

Push/Pull Studios “The Mall”

1:150
Section A

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

a a

Push/Pull Studios “The Mall”

1:150
Section B
visuals