After its first location in Spitalfields (East London), which opened in 2014, Second Home – founders of London’s most creative community for entrepreneurs and innovators – opens its second London location in Holland Park this month, January 2018.

Designed by Spanish architects SelgasCano, Second Home Holland Park marks a continued exploration into the fields of environmentally sustainable and biophilic design. The building uses 100% green energy generated by Bulb, an innovative green technology start-up founded at Second Home Spitalfields. The studios at Second Home Holland Park are designed to house small teams of up to eight people, in contrast to the first London Second Home in Spitalfields, which contains studios for teams of up to 150 people, and recently expanded to a new rooftop space above the original building.

“Everything is this building is about scale. It is small but with a strong personality, like in a circus; every act is as important as the other, no hierarchies, and only working all together do they create something unique” highlight the architects.

The new designs respond to the building’s unique history. The 12,000 sq. metres were occupied in the 1980s by Richard Rogers’ architectural studio. Original features of the building have been restored – including the walkways designed by Richard Rogers and a staircase designed by David Chipperfield. Second Home Holland Park continues its commitment to biophilic design. 35 trees have been planted in the space. New roof surfaces bring in additional natural light and feature innovative greenhouse technologies deployed in an office setting for the first time, using soap bubbles as environmentally friendly and energy efficient insulation in the courtyard.

“Stairs, skylights, a bridge and a vine that Richard Rogers himself planted in the courtyard are bits of his design added to the history of the buildings that we kept as a treasure of modern archaeology” explain the architects.

“When it comes to design, we’ll never do the same thing twice – that’s just boring. I love the way SelgasCano responded to the rich cultural heritage of the building, and created something totally unique – and yet recognisably Second Home” says Sam Aldenton, Second Home co-founder.
Second Home Holland Park, 48-49 Princes Place, London W11 4QA