About the Architect:

Stuart Piercey

Piercy & Company are more than architects.

The company is a collective that includes architects, furniture designers, interior designers and researchers all based in their London studio. Stuart Piercy, who heads up the company, is passionate about their way of working.

“We take on all kinds of projects, from pieces of furniture to urban masterplans but we are always very interested in the actual physical act of construction, architecture and craft, building or testing a lot of our own materials in our workshop.”

“For The Bindery we were inspired by the local history of ‘making’. Originally on this site, there was a bookbinder, a jewelry maker, a clockmaker and a metal workshop.

“We like to uncover and celebrate what a building already possesses and not simply knock down and replace. We discovered so much as we stripped out the Bindery, such as the fantastic columns, brickwork and original terrazzo hidden by layers of plaster. There were lots of ‘wow’ moments of discovery as we progressed.”

“The office has changed. People want to be free to move around and not be desk-bound. In The Bindery, we wanted to give people more than just an office by creating a variety of different spaces beyond the office floors such as beautiful garden terraces designed by Andy Sturgeon, unexpected glasshouse meeting rooms and a gallery space.”

“Even the ground floor is special, a town square where the office meets the community, a welcoming space and not a fortress against the outside world.”

“The big question even before the pandemic was why would anyone leave their home and go to work? With The Bindery we have answered that.”

Stuart Piercy

“In The Bindery we wanted to give people more than just an office by creating a variety of different spaces beyond the office floors”

About the Artist:

Eddie Roberts

Yorkshire based sculptor Eddie Roberts, recently described by an art critic as “a rising star in the art world turning metal into art”, works with steel to create bold sculptures that echo nature and natural forms. 

“I was approached to create a monumental piece, something I had long wanted to do, and after a conversation with the client and their architects where they laid out a vision of a calming, tranquil workplace in the midst of a vibrant location, it really was something I couldn’t say no to.”

“The brief was to bring something unique to compliment the gallery space, to create a focal point / a talking point that welcomes people arriving at the building, using metals reclaimed from the building. My work had to complement the many artefacts in the space, items that harked back to the building’s past life. I wanted people to be able to walk around the piece so that each angle revealed almost a new artwork.”

“For me, art is about expressing what’s in your mind. When you create something in steel, you have to push to make the material do what you want. I looked at the central beam recovered from the site I saw a line – my work is all about the ‘founding lines’ – while I was equally inspired by the Art Deco building that combines curves of the fluted stone with the strong horizontal lines of the facade.” 

“In the last year so many people have turned to art for their wellbeing, and this sculpture is in a building where there is serious work to be done but where people also need calm and thoughtfulness. I believe every building should have art built into it – off the gallery walls, out of the museums and into everyday life.”

Eddie Roberts 

“So many people have turned to art for their well being”

“A vision of a calming, tranquil piece to be located in the middle of hectic London”

About the Landscape:

Gardener: Andy Sturgeon

‘Head gardener’ at The Bindery is Andy Sturgeon, winner of the Society of Garden Designers 2020 International Design award, who was voted one of the top 10 garden designers in the UK and has won eight gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Andy was delighted to be commissioned to create The Bindery’s green areas, immediately understanding Piercy & Company’s concept of creating welcoming and relaxing spaces for a new kind of office building.

The project was of course not without its challenges. “Biodiversity means more than simply variety. The gardens need to look good all year round and thrive in the different environments to deliver the many health and wellbeing benefits.” 

“Roofs are not a naturally hospitable place for plants; but we have sourced plants that will flourish in this habitat, looking to the Mediterranean as well as all the way to China, New Zealand and Australia.” It was important to choose plants that will flower at different times of the year and to ensure invertebrates always find nectar and things to eat.” We also included herbs and scented plants that enhance the sensory experience and peoples contact with nature when moving around the garden spaces.” 

“As for the greenhouses, the idea is for people to come into contact with growing and nurturing things. With the benefits of spending collaborative time away from the desk becoming more valuable, this takes it to a whole new level.”

“It has been a marvelous project, the client has a real passion, has supported us through all the challenges, and has defended the quality of the garden spaces throughout the project.”

Andy Sturgeon

“The gardens need to look good all year round, it’s important for their role in delivering health and wellbeing benefits.”