House Design

Commercial Design

Office interior
Art Museum
Church

Urban design

High Density

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Office spaces can say as much about the creative team as the portfolio or the people – and clients are among the keenest observers of their design team's own offices. We were well aware of clients' expectations when the search for new office space began. Our old offices were cramped and a little tired. We wanted a space that could appeal to staff and visitors, convey a confident and assured persona, and are flexible enough for long-term changes. So we decided to renovate the old space and it heavily partition spaces – we needed a floor plan to find your way around. But it had a lot of height, plenty of natural daylight through additional south-facing windows, and additional architectural features.

The brief was firstly, the space had to accommodate 4 work stations and 1 meeting spaces. Secondly – and more importantly – the space needed to express the firm's design ethos, foster a creative attitude in staff, and stretch clients' expectations. By their very nature, offices are complex and they can get very messy and overwrought," he says. We wanted to give the impression of something simple, so that visitors could get a sense of the whole space and glimpses of a working office.

To ensure that the space can be read as one, none of the elements go full height except for one oversized wall that acts as a central organising element, with the rest of the office spiralling around it, says Burns. "The wall draws the eye up and expresses the height of the space, as well as dividing the space. Voids in the wall allow space for the trusses to travel through and offer sight lines into the spaces beyond.

In keeping with the simple layout, materials are understated and natural, with clear finishes. We wanted a material palette that didn't draw attention to itself, so that the space functions as a simple container," says Burns. "At the same time, we wanted the space to be elegant and welcoming, so we've gone for a semi-industrial feel, with nothing too brutal. The custom wood cabinetry – designed to be read as stacked cardboard boxes – has a clear finish, as does the concrete blockwork of the reception light box and concrete wall around the kitchen. Villaboard with a clear finish was chosen for the desk tops.