tp bennett designs a fresh new spot for Aviva at EightyFen
A transparent, community-focused office design represents a milestone in the organisation's commitment to creating positive workspaces.
25/07/2024
3 min read
Instagrammable interiors: our most-liked projects of 2023
Championing the circular economy, highlighting heritage and locality and defining the ‘hotelisation’ of the workspace: we round up the projects you ‘liked’ the most in 2023.
21/12/2023
6 min read
Throughout 2023 we inundated our followers’ feeds with the crème de la crème of commercial interiors projects; from ground-breaking sustainable landmarks and future-facing workplace concepts, to hospitality destinations bursting with colour, character and narrative. Here’s a recap of the ones that resonated most with you – in no particular order.
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Fora celebrates Cambridge at its latest flexible workspace
Flexible workspace provider Fora has opened a six-storey space on Station Road, Cambridge – a leading hub of technological and business innovation home to the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Spotify.
Designed entirely by Fora’s inhouse team for the first time, the design pays homage to Cambridge’s architectural vernacular and cultural history, with warm sandy tones and natural tactile textiles throughout. On the top floor, a verdant ‘Garden Room’ is inspired by the nearby Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, with an abundance of living plants and pockets of biophilia creating a calming connection to nature. Outside, a wrap-around terrace offers sweeping views across the city, and a green roof, fitted with bug hotels, encourages biodiversity.
The Hoxton, Charlottenburg: Berlin’s latest hotel for ‘culture vultures’
‘Rough Nouveu’ is the concept behind Ennismore’s new hotel opening, designed by its in-house team at Aime Studios. Layered, textural aesthetics are in abundance with unrefined plaster walls, art deco light fittings and vintage furnishings displayed next to exaggerated cornicing and emerald-green tiles. Locally sourced and commissioned artwork features on the walls, including a bespoke mural in the lobby by Berlin artist, Stefanie Kägi.
Elsewhere, the interiors throughout both The Teahouse and House of Tandoor have been designed to reflect Charlottenburg and the grand palaces and hotels found in Kolkata and Bombay throughout the 1920s. At The Teahouse, shell-patterned mosaic tiles accentuate the glamorous curved bar fitted with a green marble countertop, while the oversized windows flood the space with light.
HLW completes warm industrial interiors for Julius Baer’s new workplace
Julius Baer, the leading Swiss wealth management group, has just unveiled its new office design at 8 Bleeding Heart Yard, courtesy of design practice HLW. Relocating from its HQ in the City, the new office location reflects Julius Baer’s ambition to ‘increase appeal among entrepreneurs and employees’ and was designed with a client-centric approach inspired by the world of hospitality.
The interiors are inspired by the building’s Edwardian-style architectural details and the industrial aesthetic – blending geometric shapes and exposed structural elements with warm and natural finishes that are far removed from a typical corporate office.
Sheila Bird Studio and Sheppard Robson give new life to Manchester’s iconic New Century Hall
In this revamped music venue and dining destination, mid-century influences are reconsidered for a new one. Once the place that hosted the stars of 1960s pop culture, the building has lay dormant for decades – brought back to life as a platform for new talent, combined with a new concept that combines music, events, food, drink and education in one powerful ecosystem for the benefit of a new generation. With architectural revival courtesy of Sheppard Robson, Sheila Bird placed community curation at the heart of the interior design process, bringing different tribes and activities together under one roof with shared spaces for them to collide.
Basha-Franklin presents a futuristic workplace vision for Velonetic
Representing joint ventures between DXC Technology, International Underwriting Association, and Lloyd’s Velonetic is a newly-launched digital insurance company, taking over 8,000 sq ft of space at the renowned Lloyd’s building in London’s financial district. To showcase a pioneering digital future of insurance, architecture and interior design practice Basha-Franklin has created an innovative new workspace that fuses education, work and hospitality – working around tight parameters in the Grade I listed building.
Given the iconic status and complexity of the building, it was important to design a space that not only celebrates the architecture, but maximises it, says Basha-Franklin’s Nicola Osborn. To protect the listed grid coffer ceiling and striking original light fittings, Basha-Franklin specified a bespoke Visplay multi-lane system, creating a secondary floating grid below the existing ceiling.
Studio TILT challenges what an ‘office should look like’ at Hiscox
Studio TILT brought the ‘wow’ factor to Hiscox UK with a sculptured, clean and modern aesthetic complemented by a specially-curated art collection. A physical expression of the insurance firm’s culture, energy and ambition, the 38,000 sq ft London office at 22 Bishopsgate has been designed as a unique and engaging space with a gallery-like feel.
The Hiscox Art Collection was a crucial factor in Studio TILT’s design approach and melded seamlessly throughout the interior design. Walls were built in specific areas to accommodate the art rather than the other way around and a public art café was implemented to instill ‘moments of inspiration, learning and creativity unexpectantly woven into everyday work life’ as well as spark conversations.
Fettle nods to Grand Milanese design at Liverpool’s San Carlo restaurant
London and LA-based studio Fettle has unveiled San Carlo Liverpool as their most recently completed project – the first in partnership with the Italian restaurant group. Taking inspiration from ornate Grand Milanese villas and gardens and the avant-garde architecture of Piero Portaluppi, the team has completely refreshed the existing space, turning it into a contemporary fine dining experience that’s anything but shy and retiring.
Green, orange and cream tones feature across the terrazzo flooring while the colourway of the walls nod to Venetian taxis and luxury Italian sports cars. An eclectic and striking mix of artwork further embellishes the walls including three oversized bespoke and abstract murals by LA-based artist, Jessalyn Brooks, positioned on the rear wall of the restaurant and opposite the bar.
Next-gen law: Dentons reveals new workspace celebrating Scottish craft
Gone are the days of dark mahogany shelves and leather-bound books – the next generation of law firm design has arrived. Designed by ‘kin, Dentons new space at No. 9 Haymarket, Edinburgh, set out to challenge the conventional approach to design for legal practices, eschewing established design tropes and stigma set by traditional law firms for a modern, intuitive and elegant experience.
The materiality draws inspiration from both Scotland’s abundant natural landscape through warm timbers and rich textured fabrics, balancing them against the warm tonal colour palette and strong geometry of Edinburgh’s built environment in the various wall cladding and tiles used throughout the space.
JOLIE embraces the ‘hotelisation’ of the workspace at Clarence House
Design studio JOLIE has embraced a shift in working concepts by incorporating elements reminiscent of a lifestyle hotel into the design for the revitalised Clarence House, located in the heart of Manchester‘s Albert Square conservation area. Traditional workplace design choices and materials are eschewed for the comfort and sophistication of hospitality and residential aesthetics, creating a boutique workplace within the 19th century building.
Jolie designed every aspect of the space to create an immersive and sensory experience. Throughout the building, textured dark timbers, brass joinery openings, and soulful marble details ensure a seamless transition between spaces. Within the workspace, flexible and comfortable aesthetics take precedence, with soft furnishings, greenery, and residential touches creating a sense of ease and relaxation.
Bluebottle draws on early photography for Getty Images’ new workspace
Tasked by Getty Images to design a new London headquarters for the post-pandemic era of flexible working, Bluebottle came up with a colourful and collaborative workspace that radically rethinks the traditional office set-up, while also taking inspiration from early colour film photography. In doing so, the design firm has succeeded in encapsulating Getty Images’ brand identity in a 10,400-sq-ft space that transforms how its occupants work and draws hybrid-working employees into the workplace.
The reference to early colour film photography then comes in through a colour scheme in which toned-down shades of bold hues — like blue, green and red — evoke early Kodak prints, as well as through statement design features like the entrance area’s overhead flash-bulb lights. Materials and textiles such as metal mesh screens, fabric wall panels and full-length curtains add more depth and warmth to the overall space, defined by curves and clean lines.