This building forms the first part of a high street regeneration project in East London. As such we understood it would be quite prominent for some time and should establish a loose pattern for subsequent projects to work with. Whilst researching historic photographs of this part of the high street we found a number of buildings that have since been lost; a late Victorian pub that rose like a landmark and a series of shops with prominent awnings and horizontal signage at each floor level, this informed our strategy. Street level shops open at the centre to form an arcade through to a small public courtyard enclosed by retail and workspace. Apartments above are accessed via open walkways creating an active public space akin to an historic coaching-inn yard. It is hoped that it will similarly become a focus for small scale events.