Coal turns to fashion retail at King's Cross
The Victorian, Grade-II coal yard is going to be converted into a Regent's Canal-side shopping destination
The retail destination of Coal Drops Yard as conceived by Heatherwick Studio (left); Area in King's Cross by Regent's Canal in 1900 (Images courtesy Argent LLP/Coal Drops Yard)
London continues its efforts in converting heritage buildings in disrepair into viable, commercial spaces with the Coal Drops Yard by Regent’s Canal in Stable Street, King’s Cross.
The coal drops buildings were built around 1850 to transfer coal from trains to road wagons. The Victoria-styled arched structures contained rail tracks from where coal would be dropped on to wagons to be transported by road into the city. They were also used as storage for the coal arriving into the buildings from Northern England.
The three coal drops building had fallen into disuse as the city’s dependence on coal diminished and had become derelict. That is until Heatherwick Studio alongwith property developer Argent received permission to convert it into a shopping destination, replete with boutiques, restaurants and bars, art galleries and cobbled-street walkways.
Part of the King’s Cross Development Partnership, Coal Drops Yard as the new development is now called, will contain about 65 retail units. The space will preserve the historic architecture of the coal drops buildings while mixing it with contemporary design.
“Coal Drops Yard was immediately fascinating to work on because the site is so unusual. This pair of long Victorian brick viaduct buildings were like vast chocolate Kit Kat fingers held apart at an angle, not conforming to conventional ideas of how retail is set out. This gave the project exciting new possibilities. Our solution uses the inherent eccentricities of the original viaduct structures to transform them into a vibrant new place for London,” said Thomas Heatherwick in a brochure for the development.
The development had earlier been criticised by conservation groups in the city. Coal Drops Yard however, has the backing of Historic England, the government body that looks into “England’s historic environment”.
While Coal Drops Yard is set to open doors in Spring 2018, the area around it is already host to a vibrant and trendy neighbourhood. There’s Granary Square which has hosted several art festivals and fashion shows for the London Fashion Week; renowned art and design college Central Saint Martins; more than 20 historic buildings that have been transformed; as also popular Indian restaurant Dishoom and Spiritland – the music-led concept store.
Coal Drops Yard is on Stable Street, King's Cross and is just around the corner from the King's Cross/St. Pancras Station.
Here's an introduction from the developers to what it's all about:
