Esplanade

Arranged over seven floors and designed in accordance with British Council of Offices guidance, the building’s layout exploits a simple division between ‘served’ and ‘servant spaces’ which permits a very efficient linear office floor plate. A ‘servant’ zone runs adjacent to the party-wall and contains the cores, toilets, building services and two atria that allow daylight into the building. Carefully positioned light-wells lead to the office spaces all being located within 7m of sources of natural light. The serrated plan and slot windows exploit long views of the seafront and allow natural daylight in.

In anticipation of more than one major tenant, the ground floor entrances and can be planned with two receptions. Pairs of lifts can be programmed to stop or not to stop at specific floors to suit different occupancies.

At ground level the accommodation is stepped-back from the line of the site boundary to create more generous public spaces along the adjoining streets. At level six there is a similar setback to provide external terraces that provide breakout spaces for the users. Roof-mounted plant sits in recesses above the cores and is completely screened by translucent glass panels. A single basement includes 35 parking spaces.

The building form is derived from a number of parameters linked to both the perception of the building from the outside and the inside. The visual impact of the building’s height is considerably less because the top floor is set back. To optimise visual links from inside with the waterfront, the south elevation is conceived as a ‘window’ on the esplanade, distinguished by full-height translucent glass blades that provide solar shading and frame views of the coast. The support system for the blades is a bespoke crafted solution that suits the particular demands of this building and contributes to a striking contemporary image.

Jersey has limited natural resources and few indigenous industries, therefore the design responds to the opportunities and constraints of importing prefabricated building elements by sea. In particular, the size and weight of composite and unitised façade panels takes account of special local conditions for manufacture, shipping and construction.