Vetus + Novum

Location
Shoreditch, London, EC2A

Architect
Trehearne Architects

Client
Aitch Group

Sector
Commercial

A campus merging a re-purposed church with cutting-edge office space in London’s creative hub.

Vetus + Novum is a landmark commercial development centred on transforming St. Mark’s Church into a striking headquarters office. The redevelopment preserves the church’s historic fabric while adapting its interiors into modern office spaces. A new five-story office building with a basement complements the church with bold, contemporary design and large glazed façades.

A key feature within the church is the floating mezzanine, which could not touch the existing walls or columns, as directed by Heritage England. To achieve this, a carefully engineered steel framework transfers loads through discreet connections to new structural elements, ensuring the church’s masonry remains untouched. The result is a striking, seemingly weightless intervention that enhances the space while respecting its heritage.

A glazed atrium provides a transparent link between the restored church and the new five-story office building, requiring a finely detailed structural approach for minimal visual disruption.

The office building features a fair-faced concrete interior, demanding precise formwork and material selection for a high-quality finish. Below ground, the basement’s structural design was meticulously planned to prevent vibration or settlement damage to the church, with advanced monitoring and careful sequencing ensuring the historic fabric remained protected.