But now more enlightened homebuilders are realising that a grand entrance can turn a mundane scheme into a prestigious one and attract well-heeled customers as a result.
"There are too many spectacular apartments let down by terrible entrances," says Alf Munkenbeck partner at architect Munkenbeck+Marshall. "The lobby is the building. You don't look at a tall building in Mayfair when passing it at street level. The impression people have of your apartment is what they can see of the lobby. A decent entrance gives residents a sense of status and the building becomes established and recognised." The practice recently converted Denys Lasdun's Keeling House in Bethnal Green, east London into 66 apartments helping to turn it into a desirable place to live by adding a modern glass and aluminium lobby. The entrance used to be a north facing open area enclosed by three walls. Munkenbeck likens it to a well and says downdrafts - often a tall building problem - gave it a miserable air.
"Often garbage ends up at the front of tower blocks and entrances, stairs, lift lobbies, balconies, and walkways are left isolated," he says.
The architect suggests that the lack of decent receptions actually hastened the demise of the high-rise residential block. "It's amazing how many decent tower blocks have been torn down. The problem is not that they're badly designed or too tall, it's because the private/public spaces don't work. If the lobby areas were sorted out the buildings would be okay. A proper lobby facing the street signifies the start of the protected area and eliminates no-man's land," he says.
The lobby also provides a place for the concierge, whose presence contributes towards a sense of security. "In France every block has a concierge even if there are only six apartments. If they're living there as well they feel as though it's their building and they take responsibility for the services," says Munkenbeck who also points out that concierges can enter apartments in emergencies when people are away and take care of deliveries.
Although lobbies are relatively expensive compared to the rest of the building, Munkenbeck says they're a good investment. "If developers don't pick up on the importance of a lobby they're stupid," he says. "An overblown lobby makes for an easier sell." One developer that realises this is Urban Splash. "The lobby sets the tone for the development. It does cost a lot of money but customers are happy to pay for it," says sales and marketing director Fiona Woodward. "The resell value for apartments with lobbies is also higher than those without." She adds that old buildings particularly lend themselves to large entrances because they tend to have large areas anyway.
Well-designed lobbies also have a positive effect on the surrounding environment says Munkenbeck. "The Keeling House lobby is 'over the top' for Hackney but we wanted to help reverse the feeling of decline in the area. Local people have responded positively and say that the building makes them feel better about their neighbourhood." The architect hopes adding a lobby will rejuvenate Gainsborough Studios in nearby Shoreditch, which, like Keeling House, is a Lincoln Holdings development. The external ground floor walls and fins are clad in aluminium which will wrap into the lobby area to create a sharp, crisp finish.
Crispin Lofts
Crispin Lofts The 76-apartment Cityfusion development in Leeds will retain its Grade 2 listed façade but have a newly built interior. As a result the architect Buschow Henley was able to design the lobby area afresh. Residents and visitors will enter the building through a nine-storey white walled space and walk into a contrasting timber lined horizontal space of one to two storeys. This area will be lit by hanging lights giving it an intimate feel. "A lot of entrance areas are mean, flat and too brightly lit. There's an awkwardness about sitting with people in bright light," says partner Simon Henley. From here residents can reach the restaurant, reception area, apartments or lifts. The latter, according to Henley, will be covered in gold leaf. "We have costed the gold leaf and it's not too expensive," he says.
Internal fittings have yet to be specified but the original Crittall exterior windows have been replaced by aluminium and glass from Metal Technology Windows. The glass is Pilkington Suncool, which has acoustic and solar properties. It is the clearest tinted glass available, as the building's listed status does not allow for external shading. The front door will be a modern interpretation of the original wooden door.
Metal Technology Windows, Pilkington.
Keeling House
Keeling House The new entrance lobby was designed by Munkenbeck+Marshall in collaboration with Denys Lasdun and his design partner John Hurley. The canopy structure is formed from 19 mm frameless annealed glass held at top and bottom. The structure has two 6 m cantilevers supported off circular columns and tied back to the existing stair tower. The underside of the ceiling is formed in natural aluminium panels. Munkenbeck+Marshall designed the aluminium furniture. The concierge's desk serves as a working surface and uplighter to the stair tower. The triangular geometry is designed to fit in with the angular plan of the building.
Allgood (ironmongery), Cantifix (glass), Louis Poulsen (lighting).
Timber Wharf
Timber Wharf An eight-storey atrium accentuates the entrance lobby of this Urban Splash development in Manchester. The external glass and sliding doors are by MAG Hansen and the bespoke designs extend to apartments, which will all have sliding screens. Glass-fronted lifts afford views of a nearby canal and the architect Glenn Howells has designed 8 m long slender concrete bridges to straddle the atrium on each storey. The bridges will be by Histon Concrete Structures and their glass balustrades by Design and Fabricate.
Design and Fabricate, Histon Concrete, MAG Hansen.
Gainsborough Studios
Gainsborough Studios At Lincoln Holdings' Gainsborough Studios in Shoreditch architect Munkenbeck+Marshall will clad the entrance lobby and external ground floor walls with aluminium panels to create a futuristic appearance.
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Building Homes
