Qualisphere
A place whose atmosphere shifts through the day.
Light as a material.
The blinds filter the sun and cast crisp shadows on the floor that shift hour by hour. Light is the project's first material, ahead of the timber and the textiles.
Warm tones of cognac leather, pale oak and undyed wool work with that light rather than against it.
Each space its own use.
Reception lounge, meeting room, private offices: each room has its own mood, but the same family of materials and colours ties them together.
The artworks on the walls punctuate the route and give the place something you cannot buy from a catalogue.
Project summary
Ergonomics and desk comfort
Adjustable seating, height-variable work surfaces, supports for standing postures. We size workstations around the hours actually spent in front of a screen, not around an average standard.
Acoustics and light
Noise and glare are the two most common complaints in open-plan offices. Absorbent panels, screens, booths and desk orientation are dealt with at plan stage, not added afterwards.
Modular furniture
Tables that fold and join together, movable partitions, seating that can be shifted: a floor plate should be able to change configuration in an hour, without technical help.
Integrated technology
Screens, video conferencing, room booking, lighting control: equipment is planned into the furniture and the services, to avoid extension leads and boxes stuck on as an afterthought.
Break and wellbeing spaces
Kitchen areas, lounges, quiet break spaces, outdoor zones where the site allows. These places, more than the desks, are what make people want to come back to the office.
Reuse and durability
Some of the existing furniture can often be reused after refurbishment. We favour French and European manufacturers, repairable pieces and take-back schemes for whatever cannot stay.