Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso

07 / 08

2019

Rohan Silva and Sam Aldenton unveil Second Home London Fields - a new family-friendly creative workspace by Estudio Cano Lasso.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

Architect: Estudio Cano Lasso
Client: Second Home (founded by Sam Aldenton and Rohan Silva)
Location: 125–127 Mare St, London E8 3SJ, London, UK
Year: 2019
Size of project: 25,500 sq ft
Environmental engineer: Richie & Daffin
Structural engineer: Webb Yates
ETFE designer: Lastra & Zorilla
Prime contractor: EXA S.r.l.
Photography: Iwaan Baan, Second Home, Taran Wilkhu

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

From the architect: Second Home London Fields is the enterprise’s first nursery location, with an ambition to create the most family-friendly working space in the city. The nursery space will be provided by one of London’s most progressive childcare providers, N Family Club. The ethos reflects the passion of Second Home co-founders Rohan Silva and Sam Aldenton – who both had babies of their own over the past 12 months – and helps to tackle the shortage of childcare provision in the UK.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

Designed by award-winning Spanish architects Estudio Lasso Cano, the building takes inspiration from the biophilic shapes and lightweight forms of German architect Frei Otto, who was best known for the tensile roof of the Munich Olympic Stadium and the lattice frame of the Multihalle in Mannheim. Second Home London Fields is clad in a ‘bubble’ façade made from ETFE, a highly efficient woven fabric stretching across a free-form frame, amplifying the surrounding urban landscape.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

Originally designed by Victorian church architect James Cubitt, the front of the building served as an education space from the 1970s while the rear, known as Morley Hall, was a former cinema, dance hall and temperance house dating back to 1879.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

Lasso Cano retains Second Home’s trademark biophilic design with an abundance of plants, natural light and stimulating colours. The spaces utilises clear partitions, floor voids, soaring ceilings – as well as signature features such as flying tables and a hanging plant system. The site runs on 100% green energy from Second Home member Bulb.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

The community occupying spaces at Second Home is diverse, mixing small charities and public sector bodies, with fast-growing innovative start-ups and teams from blue-chip corporations. In Second Home London fields, the range of organisations includes Help Refugees, Black Rabbit, Stretch Yoga, London College of Fashion and Musical Dots. Second Home also provides free space to local community groups and offer reduced prices to charities and social impact organisations.

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home

Second Home co-founder Rohan Silva said, "Being a parent is never easy - as I’m quickly learning myself. But it doesn’t have to be this hard - and our new family-friendly Second Home space shows how workplaces can evolve to support working parents."

Co-founder Sam Aldenton adds, "Our architects have done a brilliant job of designing this building with children in mind - as well as adults. It’s a real step forward for workspace design, and it’s great to see the local community using the space every day."

Second Home London Fields by Estudio Cano Lasso
© Second Home