Introduction
Devonshire Square in London is a site of profound historical transformation. Its early life as a residential district was abruptly halted by the Great Fire of 1666. The subsequent redevelopment in the 18th century repositioned the square as a critical logistical hub, dominated by a vast warehouse complex serving the powerful East India Company. These structures were essential for storing valuable goods and exotic commodities imported from India, underscoring the square’s importance in global trade.
Though the warehouses have since been subject to multiple redevelopments, including a major refurbishment in the late 1970s, the area now expertly blends these historical features with the demands of modern commercial office standards. Crucially, the square still retains many of its original 18th-century elements, most notably the streetside balustrades, which were designed to prevent falls into the lightwell basements below the street level.
Problem
The transition of Devonshire Square from historic warehousing to contemporary commercial office space presented a challenge for access. The architectural necessity of the lower-level lightwells—a retained original feature protected by historic balustrades—created a vertical barrier between the street and the main entrance level. This configuration meant that disabled visitors and others with mobility challenges faced steps, preventing access. The overarching problem was finding a mechanism to bridge this crucial vertical gap while ensuring the solution was completely sympathetic to the retained historical elements of the square, particularly the original streetscape and the characteristic cast-iron balustrades. Any intervention had to be engineered to uphold the aesthetic and structural integrity of this protected urban environment.
Solution
To overcome the architectural and historical constraints, Edmolift implemented a bespoke and highly innovative solution. The strategy centred on cleverly utilising the existing lightwell space beneath the street-level balustrade. A custom-engineered bridge was designed to safely span this lightwell, providing a secure foundation that supports the disabled access platform lift. This engineering feat allowed the access mechanism to be positioned precisely where it was needed, providing a seamless, level change from street level to entrance level.
To make sure the lift was entirely unobtrusive, the design team meticulously focused on material and aesthetic replication. The lift’s exterior features replicated railings that perfectly match the adjacent historic streetside balustrades. The platform’s surface was finished with matching stone flooring, ensuring that when the lift is at street level, it blends seamlessly into the surrounding paving. The lift itself is an adjacent entry bespoke platform lift, equipped with bi-parting travelling gates and a single-wing upper-level gate for safe and efficient operation.
Results
The successful installation of the bespoke platform lift at 17 Devonshire Square has achieved the dual goals of full accessibility and heritage preservation. The carefully engineered solution now provides easy, reliable, and dignified access for all users from the busy street level directly to the main building entrance. By spanning the lightwell and precisely replicating the historic balustrades and paving materials, the platform lift is virtually invisible when not in use, successfully navigating the stringent requirements of fitting modern machinery into a sensitive historical setting. The result is a high-functioning commercial property that respects the unique architectural legacy of Devonshire Square while meeting current standards for inclusive building access.