Gunpowder Mill by Pollard Thomas Edwards

Gunpowder Mill in Waltham Abbey was presented at the AT Awards live finals on 7 November 2022 at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to a jury comprising, Marion Baeli, Sarah Allan, Deyan Sudjic, Roger Harrabin, Ben Derbyshire, and Chair Catherine Burd. Read about how the project has stood the test of time, below.

A new three-storey glazed structure completes the office complex. Credit: Dennis Gilbert/View

Completed
2009

Pollard Thomas Edwards has crafted a company headquarters for housebuilder Hill from derelict historic structures that were part of the Royal Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Abbey, and added an elegant glazed office wing extension. This was not just a refurbishment but the complete reimagining of an organisation, site and buildings into a complementary whole, creating a new life for redundant buildings to meet 21st century needs.

The brief required space for future expansion, which could be sublet in the short term. A new building links the Power House with the Water Tower, its scale and massing consistent with the existing architecture. A key feature of the Power House’s atrium is how it provides flexibility for future growth. The new extension can be connected to it, adding additional space for Hill or, alternatively, the space can be let to complementary businesses – giving them a choice of either self-containment or linkage into the Hill hub.

Suspended meeting areas animate the space but remain subservient to the drama of the full height of the historic building. Credit: Luke O’Donovan

The design and construction mantra was ‘reduce, re-use and recycle’. All original bricks were reused, existing lopped trees were chopped, and the chippings re-used on site. All hardcore was recycled. The refurbished building is naturally ventilated with double glazed windows and rooflights forming the primary source of fresh, cool air via stack effect.

A recent staff survey by the occupiers gave an 85 per cent satisfaction level with the working environment – an exceptionally high rating for a survey of this type. Staff noted that there has been an improvement in morale as a result of the inspirational spaces and better interaction between departments – due to the mix of informal meeting, breakout and social spaces.