Creating a destination
Peckham Palais occupies the former Jones and Higgins department store, a prominent but underutilised landmark in South London. As Peckham’s cultural and nightlife scene expanded, the building presented an opportunity to be repositioned as a destination capable of supporting and reflecting the area’s diverse mix of activity and audiences.
We began by assessing the building’s potential and define a viable strategy for its transformation. The brief was to establish a clear concept and programme that could unlock the building’s value, balancing commercial performance with cultural relevance and long-term adaptability.
We led the project from concept development to delivery, shaping a mixed-use programme that includes a 470-capacity basement nightclub, a first floor bar and cultural venue, with a future restaurant and top-floor workspace to be introduced in phase two. The design focuses on operational performance and spatial flexibility, enabling the building to function seamlessly across different uses, while carefully integrating new interventions within the existing structure.
Peckham Palais has re-established the historic building as a high performing cultural destination. The project demonstrates how a clear strategy, strong concept and rigorous delivery can transform an underutilised asset into a commercially viable and culturally significant venue.
Industry
Location
Year
Deliverables
Photography
Press
Cultural
London, United Kingdom
2026
Concept, Construction, Contract Administration
Lorenzo Zandri