Located in the Clerkenwell area of London, Harella House is part of the rich industrial history of this area, originally built in the 1930s for Harella Clothing Manufacturers and used by that company until the 1970s.

The new refurbishment project is the work of renowned practice Piercy&Company and it involved both an overhaul and an extension that restored the original organic structure by removing the incoherent frills added over the years. Extending over six stories for 3,107 sq. m of floor area, Harella House is now conceived as office space and so user comfort and wellbeing are priorities.

The decision to revitalize the riveted steel columns, exposed brick perimeter pillars and beams embedded in concrete did mark a return to the past, but it also adds a contemporary feel that revels in the crisp lines of the original construction. The reconfiguration of certain spaces created an expansive reception lobby in which the ceiling sits a generous 4.76 cm above the floor, a raised level is lit by new skylights and, on the top floor, a south-facing mezzanine enjoys plentiful light through the large windows.

Indeed, the extensive use of glazing is found across each floor of Harella House, flooding natural light into the structure. The modular design of the windows used for the exterior elevations creates an elegant sense of lightness, rhythm and transparency through the contrast and dialogue with the brown brick façade and the white painted bands.

The choice of Secco Sistemi's OS2 75 painted galvanized steel and brass systems for the doors and windows was clearly made to achieve the desired esthetics, without compromising on the performance standards. Architects and designers often opt for the OS2 75 systems precisely because of their exceptional blend of minimal thickness and high performance as this gives them extensive design freedom without having to worry about how insulation might be negatively impacted.

These doors and windows are available in galvanized steel and stainless steel, Cor-Ten^® and bronze, with the additional option of recreating those typical hues and shades of aged bronze. All of the materials come with numerous finishing options so, since over 40 profiles are available, it becomes possible to produce the perfect combination for a design idea in a merger of transparency and purity of line.