x+why brings its signature workspace and hospitality offering to Arding & Hobbs
W.RE has agreed terms with premium commercial amenity and workspace provider x+why to occupy 27,500 sq ft in Arding & Hobbs, the historical landmark beside Clapham Junction Station. Located only 8 minutes by train from both Victoria and Waterloo Stations, the partnership will bring high-quality office and amenity space to South London, offering excellent transport links and a vibrant business environment. Local community and businesses will have access to stylish space to work, meet and entertain within this exceptional location. The offering will include flexible working space, private offices and dedicated desks, meeting rooms, event space, food and beverage, a club space and a terrace.
x+why will occupy the 3rd floor of Arding & Hobbs and operate the building amenities including the new roof terrace and front of house. It will be the latest space in a portfolio of buildings across the UK, with x+why currently managing over 430,000 sq ft of flexible office, meeting and events spaces, receptions and F&B led club spaces in highly sustainable and beautifully designed buildings across london, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes.
W.RE acquired the Grade II listed building in 2018. Built in 1910 in an Edwardian Baroque style, it housed Arding & Hobbs department store until its closure. An important part of Clapham Junctions’s local heritage as one of South London’s first purpose-built department stores, W.RE has overseen an amazing transformation in a recent renovation, including a beautiful new roof terrace, whilst maintaining many of the original features of the elegant building. Since the completion of the project, the building has been completely revived, and the surrounding streets have begun to thrive.
Arding & Hobbs provides creative and characterful workspace for around 1,000 people on the upper floors. A range of exciting retail and leisure uses accounting for around 30% of the total floorspace occupy the basement, ground, and first floors, including Third Space gym with reformer pilates and hot yoga offering, Italian delicatessen Prezzemolo & Vitale, and Botanica Hall with coal-fired pizza oven and vodka distillery. This combination of uses and high quality of tenants has brought new life to the building and an economic boost to Clapham Junction town centre while restoring the heritage of this iconic landmark.
x+why’s in-house award-winning design team, whydesign, is leading on the interior design of the space. The fully bespoke service specialises in delivering a blend of modern aesthetics and ethical design, and at Arding & Hobbs will focus on incorporating themes from the rich heritage of the former department store into the concept. This will include referencing the Arts and Crafts aesthetic, utilising salvaged materials and several notable pieces of antique furniture.
Both x+why and W.RE are certified B Corps and so firmly aligned in their commitment to providing environments that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also in keeping with the principles of sustainability. The space will therefore appeal to businesses and startups that are looking to embrace more responsible ways of working.
The unique members' club space will be a best-in-class hospitality amenity available for all tenants and external members to use and enjoy. There will be a range of memberships to service and host the community, and the team have received an unprecedented level of interest for founding memberships. In addition to a range of curated member events, the food and beverage offering will give members access to a delicious and ethically sourced seasonal menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as for catered meetings and events. The beautifully designed meeting and events spaces with a capacity of up to 200 people will be open to bookings from the general public and local business community as well as members.
Rupert Dean, CEO and co-founder of x+why, said: “At x+why we are always looking to partner with like-minded landlords in the best buildings and locations, and so are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with W.RE in the special Arding & Hobbs and bring our forward-thinking hospitality offering south of the river to Clapham Junction in this historic building.
“Modern work is not about going into the office to sit at a desk and this offer will not only service the tenants of the building but also the local community who can now access this incredible space as part of hybrid working or as a space to have fun. x+why’s space will perfectly complement the neighbouring tenants, Botanica Hall and Third Space, providing a destination hub to work, exercise and socialise for both the local community and those further afield due to its proximity to London’s busiest train station.”
Sascha Lewin, CEO at W.RE, said:“We are thrilled to be working with x+why, who share so much of our vision when it comes to bringing this building to life, not least through our joint commitment as B Corps to creating a sustainable space. We are excited to return the iconic Arding and Hobbs to its original role as a convener for Clapham Junction, with many of its beautiful features restored, and look forward to seeing it as a destination of choice for workers and residents in South London.”
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