Mather and Conran’s Centre Point revamp unveiled

Rick Mather Architects’ and Conran & Partners’ Centre Point redevelopment project in London

Rick Mather Architects and Conran & Partners’ £350 million overhaul of London’s iconic Centre Point skyscraper has been revealed

The high-profile project for developer Almacantar creates 82 apartments inside the 34-storey tower and 4,100m² of retail inside the low-rise Centre Point House and a connected glazed bridge.

A new piazza will also be created by diverting a busy road which currently runs through the site. Centre Point House’s existing 36 private apartments would be retained.

No part of the Grade II-listed complex would be demolished under the scheme which is planned to be submitted for planning in May.

Two exterior staircases at the base of the Richard Seifert-designed 1966 office tower would however be relocated inside the envelope.

Rick Mather is concept architect for the project, designing the retail elements and integrating the scheme’s public realm with an existing strategy for the area by Gillespies.

Conran & Partners is designing the tower’s apartments which will range in size from 80m² to 600m².

The penthouse apartments will be spread over two floors and includes a private terrace running behind the summit’s landmark ‘Centre Point’ branding.

Centre Point was built by 1960s property tycoon Harry Hyams and famously remained almost empty for a decade.

Almacantar bought Centre Point for £120 million in 2010 after its previous owner Targetfollow went into administration.

Kathrin Hersel, Almacantar development director, said: ‘The solution we found for Centre Point would secure its long term future and if that’s not coming forward the listed building as such would be at risk.’

Previous redevelopment proposals for the site have included Centre Point House’s and the glazed bridge’s demolition.

Tom Holberton of Rick Mather Architects said: ‘Centre Point is quite a heroic building but it has been under appreciated and has suffered in its public realm.

‘The ambition is to make it what it always should have been.’

Nick Edler of Conran & Partners added: ‘We felt there was no need really to override what was already there.’

The skyscraper will receive double glazing and a new lighting scheme by Speirs + Major.

Centre Point’s top-floor members bar – the Paramount club – would be transformed into apartments.

The project is planned to complete in 2015.