Leading London office provider Argyll has reopened its doors to the newly refurbished Hudson House in Covent Garden following completion of an ambitious £3.5m refurbishment project.
The 14,000 sq ft Grade II listed building has been part of Argyll’s owned portfolio for over 20 years and now hosts 48 state-of-the-art offices and two meeting rooms across six floors for customers in Covent Garden. Having been originally commissioned in 1905 by Sir Edwin Lutyens as the headquarters for Country Life magazine, Argyll’s redesign has centred around celebrating both the building’s heritage and strengthening its sustainability credentials.
Argyll has worked closely with designer Emma Turner to honour the building’s rich history, with the lower floors reflecting their origins as Country Life’s editorial offices and the upper floors inspired by the industrial character of the former printworks. The redesign combines a contemporary, service-led workplace experience with the careful preservation of original features, including marble floors, pillars and distinctive vaulted ceilings.
Sustainability has been at the heart of the project, with the building recently achieving an EPC rating of A – an impressive feat for a Grade II listed structure. Argyll also focused on sustainable sourcing and longevity in its furniture choices for the space, opting for custom desks from Bene and Walter Knoll chairs throughout.
The refurbishment has launched during an exciting period of expansion for Argyll, following their acquisition by Crosstree Real Estate Partners in May 2025 and their £11 million purchase of 33 Chancery Lane – their first acquisition in over 20 years. Argyll are set to open the new building to customers early next year.
Emily Smith, CEO of Argyll, commented: “Hudson House is the first building that I launched when I joined Argyll in 2005, and it is the first I am re-launching in my role as CEO, so this is a real full circle moment for me. It is a beautiful space that embodies Argyll’s commitment to creating state-of-the-art workspaces within architecturally interesting and characterful buildings. Following this refurbishment, Hudson House sets a new benchmark for premium flexible workspace, combining exceptional design, outstanding service and a truly distinctive working environment.”
Emma Turner, Design Custodian for the project, commented: “Working with such distinct architectural heritage is a real delight as a designer. We’ve focused on restoring and reimagining the building’s original character and ensuring Lutyens’ and Country Life’s legacies are honoured throughout, whilst upgrading energy efficiency and creating a calm, modern workplace environment in the midst of Covent Garden.”
