W.RE Arding & Hobbs, Battersea

The former Arding & Hobbs department store, a Grade II listed Edwardian Baroque landmark that has defined the Clapham Junction skyline since 1910, has been brilliantly restored and reimagined by W.RE and Stiff + Trevillion Architects into one of South London's most exciting mixed-use destinations.

The restoration peeled back decades of retail interventions to reveal the building's original features, spectacular stained-glass dome, barrel-vaulted stained-glass roof, brick and stone walls, before introducing a dramatic new central lightwell, new escalators for sociable vertical movement, and an 8-metre contemporary roof pavilion crowned by the iconic cupola. The result is a genuinely special place to work: premium Grade A office floors with each having its own distinct character and exceptional finish, natural light flooding through the new skylight and internal windows, best-in-class cycle and shower facilities, and a 7,000 sq ft roof terrace with panoramic views across London.

On the ground floor, Third Space gym, Botanica Hall, Prezzemolo & Vitale and The Arding Rooms private members club create a destination that makes the whole working day better.