As part of the regeneration in King’s Cross historic rail yard area in central London, Coal Drops Yard is a project to redevelop three canal-front existing buildings and surrounding spaces into 100,000 sq ft of retail destination and public spaces.

Originally built around the 1850s, the long and thin buildings accommodated coal-transporting trains and consist of various level changes and structural features, all of which have great heritage significance. The design takes on the challenges of re-appropriating these buildings into a vibrant retail environment, by enhancing the spatial and visual connectivity, and introducing new interventions that are unique and intrinsic to the identity of the original Coal Drops buildings. Working with their materials, forms, features and characteristics that are so rich in history, Coal Drops Yard will commemorate their past transformations, breathe new life into them, and create an unforgettable environment to celebrate the theatre of shopping.

The project was awarded planning application in 2015.

Images courtesty of Heatherwick studio.