Once a gin distillery and later a printing press, Laser House in Clerkenwell has undergone a remarkable transformation into a cutting-edge space for London’s creative sector. With a design vision centred on fusing art and architecture, this ambitious redevelopment project now offers nearly 88,000 sq ft of office, retail, and restaurant space — all within walking distance of the Barbican.

The refurbishment preserves the character of the original industrial building while introducing modern interventions, such as six storeys of flexible workspace for over 850 occupants, a private gallery, and a generous 10,000 sqm green roof terrace that enhances the urban ecosystem.

For the exterior landscape elements, Europlanters worked closely with Town and Country Gardens to help bring the architect’s vision to life. Tasked with delivering a suite of bespoke planters that would both complement the building’s materiality and solve a specific privacy issue, Europlanters’ contribution was integral to the project’s success.

One of the challenges faced during the planning phase was concern from neighbours about the potential loss of light and privacy caused by the new construction. The solution was innovative and sensitive: Europlanters supplied planters with integrated smoked glass privacy panels, which formed a subtle, modern boundary that still allowed for natural light transmission while respecting sightlines. These were strategically installed around the perimeter of the building to address neighbour concerns and were instrumental in securing planning approval.