Case Studies

December 2016

Lyst acquire iconic White Cube Gallery on Hoxton Square

Client: Lyst 

Property: 48 Hoxton Square, N1 (The White Cube Gallery) 

Client’s Requirement: 8,000 sq ft, on one floor for a term of 3-5 years.

The Challenge: Monmouth Dean was tasked to acquire an iconic floor in Shoreditch for one of the brightest emerging talents in the Fashion & Tech industry. Their business was expanding at an unprecedented rate, so they needed to take space on flexible lease terms to allow for future growth.

Lyst are a successful online retailer and their corporate ethos sets themselves apart from their competitors. Finding a building that didn’t conform to the standard office vibe and would help to attract and maintain the right creative workforce was fundamental. 

Following the emergence and expansion of the so-called 'Silicon Roundabout', the Shoreditch/ Old Street sub-market has experienced the most extensive and sustained growth of any area in the Capital. For this reason, the very best space invariably comes with a financial premium attached, especially when buildings offer authentic and traditional East London architecture. 

The Solution: After extensive research and inspections of a number of interesting spaces, the fascinating idea of converting the iconic White Cube Gallery on Hoxton Square came to light. It offered Lyst the chance to occupy a self-contained historical building with a contemporary addition of a glass cube incorporating the top two floors. It offered 8,000 sq ft of space and incorporated a stunning 20 ft high gallery on the ground floor.

Planning use was an issue (galleries have a D1 use) but, undeterred, Monmouth Dean worked in conjunction with Hackney Council and Tech City and secured a change of use to B1 office space.

Lyst now occupy the building and have become an important part of Shoreditch’s reinvention into one of London’s most creative and inspirational places to work.