Railway infrastructure has been part of Hackney’s urban landscape for more than 170 years. At Bohemia Place, the Victorian railway arches are an established feature of the area and form part of a site that has evolved into a distinctive destination for businesses, events and the local community. Our £3 million refurbishment and regeneration project for The Arch Company, has transformed this series of historic railway arches into high-quality commercial spaces alongside significant improvements to the surrounding public realm.

The project focused on the comprehensive refurbishment and extension of Arches 4–8, bringing previously underutilised spaces back into productive use while retaining the character of the original railway architecture. The substantial programme of works to create modern, flexible commercial units within the existing arches included new glazed frontages and skylights, upgraded building services, improved lighting and carefully integrated interventions to provide adaptable spaces capable of accommodating a variety of commercial uses.

The project extended beyond the refurbishment of the buildings themselves, with a significant programme of external and public realm improvements helping to transform the experience of Bohemia Place. This included new hard landscaping, planting, bespoke seating, planters, lighting, fencing and access improvements, creating a more welcoming and cohesive environment around the arches.

The new artwork and murals provide a strong visual identity throughout the development, celebrating the creative character of the area while bringing colour and personality to the historic railway infrastructure.

Working within a busy urban location required careful planning and coordination throughout the programme, and was made possible with our close collaboration with AECOM, Stephen George + Partners LLP, Macgregor Smith, Pick Everard and Brentwood M&E Services Ltd, together with our specialist subcontractors and suppliers.

HBS Director Andrew Pratt commented, “The completed scheme demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be successfully adapted and enhanced to create modern commercial environments while retaining the qualities that make these locations distinctive. Congratulations to everyone involved, with a special mention to the HBS team who did a fantastic job!”