By maximising the potential of an existing building and prioritising material reuse, this bespoke commercial project demonstrates how timber construction combined with circular thinking can create generous architecture with minimal environmental impact – setting a strong precedent for low-carbon urban development.
A light-weight glulam pavilion adds another floor to the existing two-storey building © Ståle Eriksen
New Wave House is the new headquarters built for – and by – New Wave London, a specialist contractor known for delivering beautifully crafted, bespoke residential and commercial buildings including the award-winning Niwa House and House in a Garden.
Designed by Thomas-McBrien Architects, the scheme adds a vertical extension and refurbishes the client’s existing two-storey industrial building in north-west London with a light-weight glulam-framed structure – increasing the overall floor space by 40%.
As well as creating a new open-plan office for New Wave, the extension provides additional lettable floor space, adding nine units for SME businesses to rent throughout the building, along with a communal roof terrace.
Building up not out
The original structure was a split-level concrete-frame building that had already undergone various alterations and extensions. Looking to create extra floor space to support their growing operations, New Wave brought in Thomas-McBrien Architects to review the layout and explore the potential for extending further. After analysing the structure, foundations and previous additions, the architects developed a simple, sensitive timber pavilion design that maximizes the structural capacity of the original building while complementing its character and form.
Timber model showing the design of the extension – by Thomas Mc-Brien Architects
The new extension was conceived as a lightweight, demountable glulam structure, designed to sit on top of the existing building with minimal structural intervention. This thoughtful approach has significantly reduced embodied carbon and allows for future deconstruction and reuse – extending the lifespan of the materials well beyond this project.
The build-up of the new structure includes a ring beam cast onto the existing building, with steel beams – many repurposed from temporary works on other projects – laid across and then joisted out to form a deck. Above this sits a frame of glulam beams and columns, topped with a perimeter glulam ring beam and flat roof. The front elevation features hit-and-miss timber detailing that echoes the glazing alignment of the original building.
Hyper-local construction
Shaping the glulam columns; on-site construction by New Wave London
The frame used 41,000 m³ of PEFC-certified, sap-free Douglas fir glulam, sourced at stock length from French timber supplier Piveteaubois, with whom New Wave have a long-standing relationship. The structure was then assembled entirely by the client’s in-house crew.
Each part of the extension was fabricated onsite, with all components cut to size and manufactured in New Wave’s joinery workshop – located on the ground floor of the building – before being craned directly to the roof. This had a positive impact on both sustainability and affordability, helping reduce transport emissions and giving the team full control over waste and detailing.
The ends of the glulam columns were shaped like plugs to ensure a tight fix and connected using Rothoblaas’ fixings: recess plates cut into beams, then connected by end plates. The whole structure was built under a temporary scaffold and roof to protect materials and construction from the rain.
Circular principles in practice
From design through to construction, New Wave House is a rigorous and inspiring example of adaptive reuse.
A significant portion of materials used in the build were salvaged from previous and concurrent New Wave London projects, including timber joists, plasterboard, insulation, light fittings, aluminium skirting, sanitary ware, and electrical components.
Lime render plaster, left over from another project, was used on the interior walls and in the stairwell, adding a textural warmth and tying the visual language of the space together. Meanwhile, 350 sqm of insulated roof panels from the original building were repurposed in the new envelope. As well as reflecting a serious commitment to circular construction, this approach also helped keep the project low-cost.
True timber craftsmanship
Interior of New Wave London’s headquarter office space. Photo by Ståle Eriksen
Inside, the exposed timber frame defines the character of the space – creating a calm and tactile working environment. The quality of New Wave’s craftsmanship can be seen throughout, particularly in the solid timber opening vents that provide natural ventilation, and the glass doors that align perfectly with the centres of the glulam beams. The trench heating is another lovely detail: radiators dropped into the void between the existing roof and ring beam, then covered with grilles cut from glulam beams.
The ceilings feature unfinished Troldtekt wood wool panels installed between Douglas-fir joists, which offer quality acoustic performance and are fire-rated. All the bespoke joinery was veneered with Douglas fir onsite, blending beautifully with the exposed glulam structure.
With generous full-height windows, the spaces benefit from natural light and sweeping views over London. Trees shield the offices on two sides from the summer sun, with the communal terrace positioned on the west side. The façade design also allows for external louvres to be easily fitted in the future, if needed.
The exterior timber is treated with a pale grey-tinted, water-based UV wood protector (SiOO:X), which prevents uneven weathering. The same finish has been continued inside for visual consistency.
