Workform helped create a stylish and sustainable space for a green energy companies new London Headquarters at 155 Bishopsgate.
The existing postmodernist building is a monument to 1980s office culture, with expansive views across London, outside terrace spaces, and internal views into the grand atrium.
Feilden Fowles has completely redesigned the internal layout to create more working space, transforming the top floor into a stylish amenity space and the floor underneath into a modern, spacious workspace.
The aim was to create a thoroughly modern, democratic and inspiring workplace which contrasted with the corporate sterility of most City offices.
The layout has been carefully designed to encourage chance meetings and conversations, but also to allow for private work. A calming, natural palette has been used in the workspace, contrasting with playful pops of colour in the meeting rooms and break-out spaces to give each area its own identity.
The office floor features an open plan workspace with adjacent meeting rooms. Herman Miller workstations and Sayl task chairs upholstered in a soft green fabric add warmth to the calm surroundings. End-of-desk mobile storage units made using Forresso ‘timber’ terrazzo are dressed with a mixture of terracotta and ceramic plant pots to help soften the space further.
Dual-aspect corners accommodate warm, colour-coded break-out spaces designed to be light and reconfigurable for informal meeting sessions and gatherings. Classic Ercol Marino lounge chairs, sofas, and Nikari stools are interspersed with planters and custom-built mobile whiteboards to give flexibility to each setting.
Timber-framed glazed screens enclose the meeting rooms while ensuring daylight reaches the areas beyond. Sustainable, custom-made round and rectangular Nikari basic solid ash tables have been paired with locally sourced Ercol eva chairs to help balance the space against the background colours of the two tone painted walls. Ancillary zones have been accommodated within the existing core – providing a kitchen for each team, shower rooms, and other supporting facilities – leaving the rest of the floor space as a flexible, reconfigurable workplace.
Locally sourced and recycled materials were used wherever possible and the materials and products selected for the project highlight our commitment to sustainability. Selected suppliers all have their own unique sustainability stories. As a specific example Nikari’s head office, studio and workshop are using solely next generation renewable energy from the hydro power plant located next to their building. The wood Nikari uses is mainly supplied by a sawmill next door in Fiskars. Most of the timber comes from Northern European forests tended with the principles of sustainability and biodiversity.
As part of our made to last philosophy, we tried to select products that we knew could achieve a long life-cycle. We looked for products made with craftsmanship in mind, and the collections we used are mostly made of solid wood, upholstery materials and fabric, joints, adhesives and surface treatment materials. Generally the upholstery parts can be changed and are wood repaired or reused. Our preference was ecological and natural surface treatment materials, such as oil, wax and soap
If you would like to discuss a project, get in touch with our friendly team.
