Alben Works

Client: Liv Projekt

Architect: Sjolander da Cruz Architects

Role: Quantity Surveying & Project Management

Sector: Commercial / Residential

Working alongside Sjölander da Cruz Architects, the project will consist of offices, live/work units and nine townhouses. The project forms part of the ongoing regeneration of Legge Lane in the Jewellery Quarter and the scheme has been designed to respect the urban context of the site in height and scale, complementing the neighbouring listed buildings. This will allow the development to become an active and dynamic part of the wider community and contribute to the life of the quarter.

The Alben Works’ site which sits at 1-2 Legge Lane was home to the Rapid Steel Company, who had a factory in the Jewellery Quarter, but were actually based in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. The building apparently takes its name from the Alben Safety Razor which was manufactured on the site before the Second World War. Below is an advert from 1920 advertising the safety razor, but notice how the spelling changed from Albun to Alben.