It’s the opening of Tom Dixon’s new headquarters and the British designer is showing a gaggle of journalists around. He’s very good at this kind of thing – laid back to the point of being lugubrious yet a hint of the showman is never far from the surface. He evidently enjoys a crowd and possesses a quick, arid-dry wit that the assembled throng laps up. It’s helpful, too, that his new 1625m2 development, containing offices, retail and a (soon to be opened) restaurant, is rather stunning.
The Coal Office is part of a 25-year development programme in London’s King’s Cross, which has transformed the post-industrial area around the railway station from one of the capital’s seedier spots into a new (and actually quite inviting) place. The station itself has had a facelift, courtesy of John McAslan + Partners. David Chipperfield Architects has done an office building, WilkinsonEyre is responsible for creating luxury flats in the old gas holders and The Guardian has offices around the corner while Google is planning to move in.