Industrial meets natural at the new Alpha FX workspace in Paddington

Modus Workspace was tasked by currency risk firm Alpha FX to design its new workspace in Paddington’s Brunel Building. The brief was to create a space that supported employees wellbeing and work/life balance, and reflected the company’s energetic and bold personality.

‘A key aspect of the design was that everything in the space had to feel like it was placed for a reason,’ the Modus design team tells us. The lift lobby features striking symmetry in terms of furniture layout, creating a sense of formality and comfort, and the biophilic elements throughout the office (including a green wall in the tea-point) help to offset the strong industrial elements. Everything balances out, and each design choice has a counterpart that roots it in a harmonious way.

‘We knew instantly that the space couldn’t just be beautiful, it had to fit Alpha’s personality,’ says Modus. ‘By aligning these two elements as well as designing sympathetically to the building, we have been able to elevate our design into a charismatic space that lives and breathes Alpha FX. It’s the feeling we get when we’re in the space that has made it so special for us. Our concept was born from a desire to create a space that would have a tangible impact on the day-to-day lives of the people who occupy it.’

‘We felt it important to create space that would become a visual representation of the culture, the work ethic and success of Alpha FX. Every day, when the team walk through the doors, they are motivated by the space around them.’

The design team had a deep understanding of who Alpha are, which instilled confidence in Morgan to believe in the design concept the team created for this space. For Modus, it wasn’t only about the design aesthetic, but about creating something that would positively impact the company’s already strong culture and work ethic.

Features such as the Alpha ‘A’ in the Meet & Greet area are visual motivational tools. When monthly sales targets are met, the Big Red Button is hit to light the ‘A’ in Alpha green – a symbol of success and a reminder for the team to always strive for their best. It was also a conscious decision for the office to give back to the team with no private offices – instead the space has been used for the inclusion of a Gym, Barber Shop and Bar.

The Auditorium was a must-have area for Alpha FX, giving them a space to host company meetings which previously were not possible. To be able to gather everyone into the one space for announcements, celebrations or large meetings gave the team a real sense of togetherness. ‘Collaboration and wellbeing are at the heart of our design. Every space is an opportunity to bring the team together to both enhance their working environment but to also strengthen the culture and relationships.’

‘Our personal favourite part of the space is the Auditorium. From the very beginning, back at pitch stage we knew this was our showstopper! We put a lot of emphasis on the design of this space to be truly innovative,’ says Modus. The studio juxtaposed the angular design of the tiered seating with the sleek lines of the integrated sofas, softening the angles with the oak timber veneer materiality and warm tan leather to the sofas. The green fabric upholstery to the screen surround was an extension of the biophilic elements within the space.

‘This space required a feeling of intimacy to offset the grandeur of the joinery. To address this, we painted the ceiling rafts and brick slips black and introduced wool curtains to provide a block-out solution and assist with increasing the acoustic properties,’ says the team.

This is the only area of the design where there is a different style of carpet, featuring the Human connections range from Interface Flooring. ‘As the name suggests, the design story is about strengthening human connections in a time where we are more connected as a society and, ironically, increasingly less connected with others.’

The base build features were the perfect fit for the concept, providing the opportunity of a design foundation as opposed to starting from a Cat A space. However, working in the Brunel Building in Paddington was both challenging and hugely rewarding for the Modus team. ‘The concrete core that runs through the centre of the building and onto the wings had to be left alone – nothing could be affixed to the concrete,’ the team tells us. This presented several difficulties in creating a design that could fulfil Alpha FX’s vision while respecting the integrity of the building itself – particularly one that included a large, open-plan workspace, with a lift lobby, gym, barbershop, tech room, meeting room, lounge, presentation room, teapoint, bar and dining area. ‘The task was a sizeable one!’