Five St Philips

Designed by architect Phillip Boughton Chatwin in the early 1930s, Five St Philips is a landmark building in Birmingham’s Central Business District, at the corner of Colmore Row and St Philips Place. Royal London Asset Management transformed it into Grade A commercial workspaces, ensuring a balance between preserving its history and meeting modern sustainability standards.

The building was imagined as a sustainability-first development, with 5plus Architects’ design for the space achieving industry-leading certifications such as BREEAM Excellent, WiredScore Platinum, and Well Building Standard Gold. Central to this approach was the ambition to create a timeless space. Working alongside 5plus Architects, we provided a blend of carefully refurbished vintage furniture and timeless contemporary design, complemented by natural materials for a modern yet respectful interpretation of the historic space.

The original architecture of Five St Philips and its place in the heart of Birmingham’s Central Business District, directly opposite the city’s cathedral, demanded respect and sensitivity in its refurbishment. 5plus Architects sought to emphasise and accentuate the building’s existing qualities, including the introduction of a spectacular 1,800 sqft double height reception space that made the most of the building’s envelope, and we adopted a similar light touch in specifying pieces for the space. The client wanted a clean, modern feel for the building that would endure over time, and we responded by building out a full spec that introduced high-quality furniture in natural greens, browns and neutral tones. This approach helped to create a welcoming ambience, enlivened by textile pieces such as rugs from Scandinavian brands Bolon and Kvadrat.

Every material chosen for Five St Philips served a dual purpose: meeting rigorous sustainability standards and creating a beautiful, comfortable environment for its users. One key example is the extended table featuring a Foresso top, an innovative material made locally in Birmingham. Foresso is crafted from at least 65% UK-sourced waste wood, resulting in a terrazzo-like surface in rich shades of caramel and coffee. Combined with natural stone, leather, wood, wool, and limestone throughout the space, materials like Foresso demonstrate that sustainable choices can be both luxurious and responsible.

We’re thrilled that Five St Philips has been recognised as Project of the Year, Workplace Interiors 70k+ sq ft at the Mix Awards North 2024. Congratulations to 5plus Architects, RLAM, and the entire project team for this well-deserved award!