Willis Faber & Dumas
The headquarters for Willis Faber & Dumas challenged accepted thinking about the office building and established Foster + Partners’ reputation for democratic, flexibly planned workplaces. Primarily conceived with a spirit of equality, the architectural innovations of Willis Faber & Dumas included the use of escalators in a three-storey structure, as well as the social dimension offered by its swimming pool, roof-top restaurant and garden. Designed for long-term flexibility, the building pioneered the use of raised office floors, which anticipated the revolution in information technology. Externally, the building was equally distinguished for its state-of-the-art glass façade, and its free-form plan, which responded to the medieval street pattern.
