The Rubber Box

The Façades

The building has gone through a substantial refurbishment. Its historical front façade has been freed from some post-modern features. It has also been chemically cleaned to reinstate its original sparkle. All windows have been replaced with enlarged and minimally framed ones. They all feature high performance glazing allowing for an enhanced acoustic and thermal performance. Frameless glass balustrades have replaced chunky green steel tubes. All visible frame-work is made of bead-blasted stainless steel as homage to the internal industrial character. The threshold to the front façade has been lowered enabling a step free entry.

The Interior

The existing structure has been exposed and converted into one of the key-features of the building in the shape of shot-blasted concrete walls and ceiling beams. This industrial language has been enhanced with stainless steel and smooth rubber finishes. In order to complete this concept in detail a carefully selected colour scheme and feature finishes, such as foamed aluminium resin panels, have been applied. Matching high quality kitchens and bathrooms have been inserted as accompanying jewels to the scheme. Build-in joinery provides plenty of storage capacity.

The Living Space

The main space is completely column free and offers a fast amount of glazing to the entire Western elevation making the flexible space extremely open and light. This impression is enhanced by a bright high quality matt, smooth, seemingly joint-less rubber floor. The solid walls are finished in a palette-matching bespoke vinyl matt emulsion whilst the ceiling shows off exposed shot-blasted concrete beams with suspended plaster board ceilings with flush recessed and trim-less, high quality, low energy, linear lighting in-between. The apartment also benefits from a 15 meter long full height built in storage wall.

The Kitchen

The open plan kitchen adds to the sense of space and light. It has been designed to look like abstract monolithic bead-blasted stainless steel blocks in order to be in the keeping of the overall design. It is fitted to the a high standard with features such as a back-painted glass splash back and flush integral extruded aluminium handles.

The Bathrooms

The finishes in the bathrooms are an elegant continuation of rubber finish on floors and walls in combination with silver riven slate strip tiles. They consist of a flush walk in shower that doubles as a steam room and a 'waterfall' bath.


Client: City Realty Ltd

Structural engineer: Fluid Structures

M&E engineer: Malachy Walsh

Quantity surveyor: Measur

CDM Consultant: Appleyard & Trew LLP

Planning Advisor: CMA Planning

Budget: Confidential

Status: Completed 2013