This new headquarters for fashion brand COS features a facade of iridescent green tiles, added by London studio Orms to realise the intention of the original architect.
Orms renovated a nine-storey triangular shaped building in central London, at the junction of New Oxford Street and High Holborn, to be COS's new European headquarters.
To realise the vision of the building's original architect, Henry Philip Cart de Lafontaine, Orms replaced the precast concrete facade panelling and the oriel windows with hexagonal green glazed tiles.

The architects discovered that, at the time of construction, these tiles were not favoured by Giles Gilbert Scott, who was advisor to the crown and had influence over the final design.
"We found an article in a magazine which outlined the architect's original intent to provide green glazed tiles," John McRae, co-founder of Orms told Dezeen. "We then found letters between the architect and Giles Gilbert Scott, which outline alternative finishes and Scott's preference to have a Portland stone base, and precast concrete panelling on the prow and cores of the building."

Glazed tiles have appeared on several buildings in London in recent years. EPR used 1,000 hand glazed ceramic tiles to clad the exterior of an office in Saville Row, while Assemble covered a London Underground station with handmade tiles.
McRae believes that Lafontaine would approve of this latest addition. "I believe Lafontaine would raise a smile...