After a comprehensive refurbishment, this much-loved London amenity is fit for purpose for decades to come.  Ironmonger Row Baths is a major component of the London Borough of Islington’s sports and leisure provision.   The 1930s Grade II Listed building is home to two swimming pools, Hamam Turkish baths, a health spa, state of the art gym and community laundry. 

The brief called for a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment. The challenge was to fit a brand new building inside the reconfigured space with an upgraded building services installation, which is both easy-to-use and maintain. 

Minimising energy use was a key driver; from upgrading the fabric, improving insulation and air tightness, to implementing natural ventilation and daylighting strategies.  Beautifully integrated services mean that the look and feel of the spaces is unimpeded by mechanical / electrical terminals.

The main pool is a good example of this energy-efficient, architecturally sensitive services design at work.  The lightbox in the ceiling is an original feature, daylight floods through it to reduce the need for artificial lighting and what lighting there is, is elegantly integrated.  The real mechanical work occurs in the space above the lightbox, where ventilation ducts and plant are concealed.