Accents to the vertical timber planes create a focal point that visually dissolves the façade at night when viewed from Finsbury Avenue.
Client British Land | Architects AHMM |
Photographer James Newton | Project Team Mark Major, Benz Roos, Neville de Sa |
Situated within the 32-acre Broadgate campus, 1 Broadgate is a 14-storey, sustainable mixed-use development in London’s City district. We were appointed to design the lighting for the ground-floor retail spaces known as Broadgate Central and the first-floor commercial reception, lift lobby, and adjacent pocket park.
Providing lighting for key pedestrian connections between Finsbury Avenue Square, Liverpool Street Station, and 100 Liverpool Street, our design enhances spatial legibility through a clear hierarchy of light and shade, supporting intuitive movement while maintaining visual continuity with the wider campus.
Drawing inspiration from historic arcades and gallerias, a series of artificial skylights introduce a sense of natural light deep within the retail arcade. Shifting in colour temperature throughout the day, from warm in the early morning, to neutral at midday, and very warm after sunset, the skylights create a dynamic ambience that maintains an intuitive connection to the outside world.
Light levels are tapered near retail frontages, allowing tenant lighting to take prominence, and carefully balanced at transitions and thresholds support a smooth passage through the spaces.
The system also features built-in flexibility, enabling playful, colourful lighting scenes that transform the arcade for events and seasonal activations.
At first-floor level, the commercial reception and lift lobby open onto a pocket park through a large glazed façade. Here, the lighting is low-energy, soft and welcoming, enhancing material warmth while reinforcing a sense of openness.
Accents to the vertical timber planes create a focal point that visually dissolves the façade at night when viewed from Finsbury Avenue.
From within, subtle lighting to the trees and benches in the pocket park further strengthen the visual connection between the interior and landscape, encouraging natural flow and creating a welcoming social ambience.