The conversion of The Market Building in Brentford was the third of three projects carried out for Verve, a small, innovative housing developer. The project involved turning what had been offices into swanky residential apartments fitted out on a tight budget.

Verve’s previous developments in London were more up-market. By contrast, their objective in Brentford was to sell affordable units in an up-and-coming area, and to sell to real residents, not landlords. Because many of the apartments were necessarily small, it was decided to include a number of common areas for residents – a courtyard garden, cinema and a common-room with a hot desking/coffee shop feel.