The Flint, located in Liverpool’s Baltic District, is a converted two-storey brick-built taxi repair garage that now serves as a retail and digital studio, exhibition space, and office for Utility Design. This transformation reflects a broader conversation in the area, where repurposed industrial buildings are becoming hubs for independent businesses and the burgeoning creative digital sector. Connecting with the local neighbourhood was important contextually as well as reaching the global community that is part of Liverpool’s heritage as a port city, and also representative of the brand. The proposal makes best use of the building’s existing industrial characteristics, with a double-height space for the showroom and the erection of a mezzanine to the rear for the open-plan office and meeting areas. 

The project aims to retain the industrial theatrics of the original taxi garage, with the existing volume still being visible. Externally, a sympathetic restoration included cleaning and re-pointing the brickwork in a traditional lime mortar, replacing steel windows and doors and adding simple hand-painted signage.

For more information about about the existing building click here.

Project photos by Luke Hayes

The brief sought to think sustainably about both material use as well as flexibility in the building’s programme. The space is a physical showroom for experiencing the online retail offer with adaptable areas for changing displays. The client was committed to reducing the whole life carbon of the building, and so we took a four-pronged approach to achieve this: Fabric First, Low Embodied Carbon, Reducing Operational Carbon, Local & Circular Economies. A key aspect of the conversion was minimising waste to reduce environmental impact and costs. The existing roof covering was retained and insulated with a non-fibrous insulation for faster, easier installation. The interior finishes are driven by the concept of prioritising local, reclaimed and bio-based natural materials where possible. Steel and cement-based products were minimised; the ground floor, mezzanine, and partitions were constructed from locally sourced timber. Treated ply was used to line and clad the underside of the ceilings, with the original trusses retained and solar panels installed to support a reduction in energy use.