Maple’s had a bit of a glow-up. The granite-clad beast on Tottenham Court Road, originally dreamed up by Richard Seifert back in the 70s, has just been reimagined by BOB Design and architect pals Gibson Thornley. The building still owns the block, but now it’s doing it with a bit more swagger, thanks to a shiny new identity and a wayfinding system that actually makes finding your way around fun.
BOB took one of Maple’s standout features, those chunky T-shaped cladding panels, and ran with it. They built an entire visual system around that shape, slotting it into a new logotype, graphic grid, pictograms, and signage. The result? A look that feels like it belongs to the building, not just stuck on top of it. Everything’s made from solid materials like anodised aluminium and black gloss blocks, so it feels hefty (in a good way).
And let’s not forget the type. GT Cinetype Mono brings a bit of brutalist charm to the whole thing, with its no-nonsense, laser-cut vibes. It’s all a lovely mix of past and future, serious materials and playful design thinking. Maple’s still a big ol’ presence, but now it’s got personality to match.
