The Office Group weaves together old and new at latest flexible workspace, Borough Yards

Photography: Ben Anders

Just a few minutes from London Bridge Station, Borough Yards is an ambitious new social, cultural and shopping hub for London, with TOG (The Office Group)’s latest flexible workspace at its heart.

TOG at Borough Yards weaves together old and new to create a 51,000 sq ft workspace spanning two buildings – a former warehouse beside the railway line, and a newly developed teardrop-shaped building designed as a natural extension of the older structure. The design of TOG at Borough Yards pays homage to the surrounding cityscape, referencing the Victorian architecture of the area and its industrial materials in the fabric of the building, including  ironwork, textured glass, glass bricks and floor-to-ceiling Crittal windows.

TOG has collaborated with renowned Copenhagen architect David Thulstrup, taking inspiration from the surrounding mediaeval streets and brick arches to create a unique, bold and sociable contemporary space with a strong sense of belonging.

Inside, there is an atmosphere of modern simplicity, respecting the rich materiality of the area. Intending for the interior of the building to be a contemporary translation of the area outside it, David Thulstrup took his initial cues from the brick arches of the railway and the green metal and glass roof of Borough market next door. The brown of the brick and the green of the glass were the starting points for the colour and material palette, translating the historic industrial aesthetic into a thoroughly modern proposition.

“I really enjoy when I get to connect myself to somewhere that has a sense of a place, and that has history that I can tap into, and then extract those essences into the project,” comments Thulstrop. “To me, the brand DNA of TOG is that they allow the architects to incorporate their own design philosophy into a project. I think that’s what I’ve succeeded with here.”

Entering the space, visitors are met with a double-height atrium containing a large metal reception desk and high-gloss green walls that resonate with the green from the nearby market.

In the workspaces themselves, the aesthetic softens, balancing brushed metal surfaces with tactile fabrics, abundant wooden accents, natural earth tones and relaxing  textures. Much of the lighting and furniture has been created bespoke for TOG at Borough Yards, including chairs, sofas and lamps designed by David Thulstrup, and soft furnishings featuring Raf Simmons for Kvadrat textiles.

Colours range from ambers to browns, light blues to blacks, and include different kinds of woods, creating warmth and nuance. Palettes shift subtly from space to space, from the inviting natural tones and bolder, more playful nuances of the coworking areas, to more purposeful black and light grey in some of the meeting rooms.