Mountbatten House

The refurbished Mountbatten House (now called PLANT Basingstoke) offers a stylish, wellness-centered space suited to the contemporary workforce of Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. Cited as one of the 15 most important modern buildings in the UK, the Grade II-Listed¹ 1970s office complex is known for its dramatic rooftop gardens, fondly called “the Hanging Gardens of Basingstoke.” The building’s landscape and garden terraces were awarded Grade II status by English Heritage in 2015.

The six-story building was overhauled in 2020 into an environmentally advanced workplace, providing year-round access to the gardens and encouraging more interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. Guardian SunGuard^™ HP Bronze 40/27 architectural glass played an integral role in meeting these goals within the revamped façade design. With a heritage-led redevelopment scheme, the project team ensured the structure met modern energy efficiency standards while preserving the original vision from when the project was first built. The refurbishment also responded to the wellbeing and lifestyle needs of today’s office workers and visitors by creating a more inviting environment.

Returning a landmark to its former glory

The ambitious refurbishment of Mountbatten House aimed to elevate its environmental performance while honoring its historical legacy as a Grade II-Listed icon. The project offered an opportunity to deliver a truly unique Grade A office² to a market that was desperately undersupplied with high-quality work environments. Central to the project was the replacement of outdated glazing with high-performance architectural glass to enhance thermal performance, improve quality of daylight and modernize the façade – all while preserving the original design.

Blending architectural rigor with natural beauty

The original Mountbatten House structure was a significant landmark of 1970s commercial architecture and embodied the collaborative approach of the initial engineers, architects and landscape designers. Peter Foggo of Arup Associates originally designed the building for paper merchants, Wiggins Teape. Upon completion in 1977, the distinct concrete structure quickly gained recognition. The generous terraced roof gardens by eminent designer James Russell were integral to the original concept and helped justify Mountbatten House as a pioneering example of late 20th century workplace design – long before “wellbeing” was a formal consideration. To this day, the gardens are widely celebrated for intricate planting and technical ingenuity. The distinctive concrete structure and verdant gardens together garnered a strong reputation in both the landscape design and architecture fields, earning Grade II listed status.

Guardian Glass collaborated with Structura, Cfield Construction and May Glass Recycling to recover and recycle 45 tons of glazing from Mountbatten House. Within 72 hours after the first glazing unit being expertly extracted by Structura the glass was transported to May Glass Recycling’s facility, where it was cleaned, crushed and sorted into cullet. This cullet was then delivered to the Guardian Glass plant in Goole, Yorkshire, UK, then melted and transformed, with the addition of other virgin raw material in the furnace, into new float glass.

Every ton of cullet used can replace approximately 1.2 tons of raw materials, which helps avoid the need for 2 million BTUs of natural gas, reducing up to 315 kgs of CO₂. The resulting new high-performance coated glass enhances energy efficiency and aesthetics while reducing environmental impact, demonstrating the power of collaboration and innovative recycling practices.

“This collaboration shows the potential of glass to be endlessly reimagined, transforming old materials into high-performance architectural solutions,” says Olcay Parikka, Architectural Design Manager at Guardian Glass. “We’re proud to contribute to a more energy efficient future for Mountbatten House and the architectural industry.” 

Reimagining a façade for efficiency and elegance

These upgrades played a crucial role in achieving a BREEAM building rating of “Outstanding,” while WELL Platinum Certification underscores the project’s commitment to occupant well-being.

Enhancements to the arrival and entry experience, paired with the renewed façade and landscapes, help ensure that Mountbatten House is a standout destination for tenants.

Blending modern upgrades with timeless appeal

The transformation of Mountbatten House blended respect for architectural history with forward-thinking design. By integrating high-performance SunGuard^™ HP Bronze 40/27 glass into the façade, the refurbishment exemplifies how innovative glass solutions can enhance both functionality and beauty.

The project reaffirms the Guardian Glass commitment to creating products that help drive energy and environmental performance while honoring the past, offering a model for future developments that prioritize stewardship and design excellence.