Symétrie
Floor plates beneath a timber roof structure, left on show.
Leaving the construction visible.
The roof frame was not concealed: it structures the space, warms the volumes and reminds you that this place was built, not merely fitted out.
Beneath those beams the fit-out keeps quiet, with pale tones, low furniture and matt materials, so the building keeps the floor.
Open without exposing.
The desks are arranged in long rows facing outwards. Storage units act as low dividers: they define without enclosing, and protect everyone's comfort.
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.