Pedrali Collaborative Space

Pedrali, the leading Italian company that produces contemporary furniture for contract and residential, has recently inaugurated its new workspaces at the Headquarters in Mornico Al Serio (Bergamo). The project, named Pedrali Collaborative Space, was designed by the Milanese architectural firm Park Associati, which in 2022 oversaw the renovation and expansion of the company restaurant.

From the very name – Pedrali Collaborative Space – it is clear that the guiding principle behind the design was to create a contemporary, dynamic and flexible workspace, developed through the modulation of an innovative layout that focuses on the comfort of the people who use these spaces everyday.

The last few years have been rethinking the workspaces with new cross, hybrid areas that move away from the static nature of traditional offices. The modern workspace is no longer just a work area, but a community space that fosters company culture and encourages interaction, sharing, and collaboration. The result is a mix of functional areas that serve as a setting for Pedrali products which, placed inside a neutral container, are displayed and used in perfect harmony with the architectural volume thanks to the refined selection of models, fabrics and colours.

Within the Pedrali Collaborative Space well-being and innovation go hand in hand. The furnishings can be customised and equipped with high-end mechanisms capable of adapting to the user. This adaptability is not just about comfort but also about giving individuals full control and management of their workspace, improving emotional quality, stimulating creativity and teamwork, and responding to the demands of the digital age.

The evolution of work dynamics in recent years has led to a transformation of the workspaces into a place for social interaction, idea generation and community building. Its purpose is to facilitate collaboration, creativity, and learning. Fluidity and sharing are therefore identified as the key concepts that animate the 560 sqm of the Pedrali Collaborative Space, divided into three main areas: the contemporary workspace with multiple workstations, the meeting areas and the breakout rooms.

The terracotta-colour, a common thread linking the new workspaces to the company restaurant project, catches the attention of those who cross the threshold of the entrance to the workspaces building, whose access area is outlined by a double-height space, providing a sense of verticality thanks to the elegant and majestic presence of 25 Isotta pendant lamps by Basaglia Rota Nodari.

The smart office is characterised by 32 workstations spread over the entire floor, defined by the practical Arki-Table Adjustable Desk, which guarantees maximum comfort and ergonomics thanks to its heightadjustable top. The components of office furniture are evolving to achieve better performance, with the primary goal of enhancing people’s well-being. Through a mobile application installed on smartphones, users can save personalized settings for the Arki-table adjustable desk and set personal wellness goals, allowing for a combination of standing and sitting work.

A sound absorbing panel upholstered in fabric can divide the space between different workstations. Accompanying the Arki-Table adjustable Desk is Polar, designed by Jorge Pensi Design Studio, a task chair that ensures maximum customization in terms of ergonomics. Characterised by an organic form Polar is designed to adapt to the human body, ensuring the well-being of its users. A dynamic object with a clear identity, it can fit into a variety of settings such as workspaces and multipurpose spaces. The chair guarantees excellent comfort thanks to its weight-activated, synchro-tilt mechanism that is able to regulate the degree of tilting autonomously according to the user’s body weight. The backrest consists of an injected-moulded nylon frame with a breathable, flexible polyester mesh for a sense of transparency. The injection moulded polypropylene support at the lumbar area may be adjusted to the user’s needs. The seat, in polyurethane foam, can move via a special mechanism that allows its depth to be adjusted. Polar is available as a chair or armchair. The latter features minimalist armrests that can be adjusted in height, depth and width, and can be orientated to suit the user’s needs. The performance of the mechanisms makes the Polar armchair conform to type A of the UNI EN 1335-1:2020 standard, ensuring ergonomics principals and wellbeing in the work environments. Boxie, the wheeled storage system by Claudio Dondoli & Marco Pocci, completes the space.

During the working day, meetings are crucial moments that can affect the quality of projects, providing opportunities for enrichment and comparison. The Pedrali Collaborative Space hosts three well-organized meeting rooms, delimited by glass walls that harmoniously allow for dialogue while maintaining the privacy required by the context. In the central area, two rooms feature the linearity and rigour of the Arki-Table, surrounded by the Nym Soft armchairs by CMP Design in the first setting and the Laja armchairs, designed by Alessandro Busana, in the second – both with swivel bases. Elinor collection by Claudio Bellini characterises the third and last meeting area: the task armchair Elinor low back, with its dynamism, flexibility and attention to user’s well-being, synthesises the different attitudes and ways of experiencing the workspace of the future, is placed around the Elinor table, a multitasking product characterised by premium aesthetic credentials that meets the needs of a constantly-changing market. Elinor low back, characterised by a lower backrest and sinuous lines, is designed to seamlessly fit both in meeting rooms and executive offices. This task chair has an elegant height-adjustable base in die-cast aluminium. A weight-activated synchro-tilt mechanism integrated in the upholstered seat allows the tilting to be self-regulated according to the user’s body weight, ensuring that the back is kept in the most comfortable position. Other strong points of Elinor low back are its comfort and body hugging feeling, thanks to the polyurethane injected foam on both seat and back. A light, slimline, strong armrest in die-cast aluminium defines the base of the backrest with its fluid line, accentuating the attention to detail that characterises this collection.

Ypsilon Connect by Jorge Pensi Design Studio is a standout feature in all three spaces. This elegant and functional free standing, sound absorbing space divider offers extensive customisation possibilities, defining new layouts and managing spaces more effectively, adapting workspaces to corporate training or meeting room situations. On each side of the panel it is possible to add accessories such as whiteboards, shelves, coat hangers or, thanks to a special provision for the passage of sockets, enable the attachment of a screen.

To promote social interaction, the demand for breakout areas has grown, providing spaces for relaxation or breaks with colleagues. Toa table by Robin Rizzini, lightweight and minimalist, is characterised by a solid die-cast aluminium frame in a fluid geometric design, suitable to support large sized tops. Moreover, being endlessly modular in length and width, it’s the perfect choice for workspaces, shaping different settings such as “light” offices and executive rooms. Inside the Pedrali Collaborative Space, surrounded by Nemea chairs by CMP Design, Toa presents itself as a large convivial table with the dual function of a break or informal meeting space.

A more intimate area is provided by Buddyhub by Busetti Garuti Redaelli, a functional and efficient furnishing element, characterised by a wrap-around, sound absorbing panel, available in two heights, that envelops the seat in a sort of enclosed niche. Buddyhub is available as an armchair or sofa, and can be used as a quiet, sound-proofed temporary workstation. It is created to meet the needs of open spaces typical of a contemporary working environment. It is also possible to place two units opposite each other and to join them by means of a panel, thus creating a four-seat box suitable for an informal meeting, a phone booth or a break out area. The functionality of this element is further enhanced by the possibility of adding sockets both to the armchair and box versions, so as to be able to connect a charger. In this case, it is also possible to provide for a screen holder, a peninsula table or a shelf. The soft lines and clean design of the Buddy coffee tables by Busetti Garuti Redaelli add the finishing touches to the space.

In the Pedrali Collaborative Space special attention was paid to selected materials. The staircase ramps and the handrails are covered in natural oak, the same material used for the entire flooring of the workspace, which is floating and radiant with wooden square tiles. Another relevant issue in an open-plan workspace is the sound insulation. Running along the entire perimeter of the architectural structure – both along the glass and masonry walls – is a system of acoustic curtains. These curtains not only serve to soundproof the space but also allow for the management of natural light, creating a harmonious atmosphere and contributing to the perception of a neutral and homogeneous envelope. Also on the ceiling, a system of sound absorbing panels on tracks fosters concentration by creating an acoustically protected workspace.

Energy efficiency is a relevant focus in the project by Park Associati. First of all, a conspicuous thermal and acoustic insulation has been applied to the ceiling of the space to be heated. Secondly, a structurally integrated radiant system has been installed in the floating floor, providing both winter heating and summer cooling. This system is coupled with controlled mechanical ventilation for air exchange and summer dehumidification. The necessary thermal and cooling energy is produced by a heat pump with high seasonal efficiency. With a view to constantly improving the company in the wake of sustainability, the energy required to power these new workspaces is also generated by photovoltaic panels installed on the factories.

Inside the Pedrali Headquarters in Mornico al Serio, the Pedrali Collaborative Space stands for a place for exchanges and comparisons where well-being and comfort blend seamlessly with the fluidity and openness of the spaces: the same spaces that, every day, host everyday scenes from the Pedrali community.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Welltek’s mission is to offer a complementary range of design-led solutions to support human needs and create office environments that not only inspire, but improve the health and wellbeing of employees. Explore some of the latest additions to Welltek’s workplace essentials! 

Bulo
For over 60 years Bulo has been creating, producing and providing quality furniture for the workspace and home. Several of their designs have become Design Classics over the years, including the Monica chair – a soft, organic lounge chair with a solid wooden structure and a ‘draped’ upholstered soft shell resting on it. The duality of the chair is based on contrasts between hard and soft, static and fluid.

Perfectly suited to hospitality, commercial and domestic settings, Bulo furniture raises the bar when it comes to elegance and sophistication. Made in Belgium, all upholstered furniture is available in a wide range of fabric and leather options to suit every individual project. The product range is vast and includes co-ordinated shelves and desks, soft seating, executive and dining chairs.

Chat Board
Welltek is proud to represent the Danish brand Chat Board in the UK as sole distributor. The original and first of its kind, the CHAT BOARD® magnetic glass board saw the light of day in 2003 as the joint invention of glass specialist Hans Henning Jensen and his hotelier daughter, Josefine Honoré.

The deceptively simple product was conceived from a wish to elevate the conventional marker board to a higher aesthetic level, and to encourage and strengthen visual communication by offering the definitive alternative to the generic magnetic whiteboard. Not only did it set a new industry standard as the first-ever floating, magnetic drawing board made of glass with no visible hardware, it really came to inspire the use of coloured glass surfaces as a powerful interior design feature.

Today Chat Board’s range includes wall-mounted and free-standing versions in a wide range of colours and sizes in classic or matt finishes. The mobile versions double as room dividers, with the option of class 1 acoustic panels to help create multi-functional spaces in any commercial, healthcare, or domestic setting.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and collaborative office design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

AEW Capital Management asked Elkus Manfredi’s team to design a culturally transformative workplace for its office in Boston’s Seaport District. Company leadership sought to offer a rich mix of options for employees to encourage collaboration, remove hierarchy, and enable people to work in an environment suited to their individual working styles. The design approaches the workspace in a new way­ – not as a container for staff, but as a tool for success and a model for health and wellness.

Well Gold and Well Health & Safety-certified, the reimagined 75,000-sf office features abundant daylight, sweeping views, a wide variety of work settings, and a collection of original artwork that speaks directly to the depth of AEW’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Designers turned AEW’s office inside out, moving offices to the interior and positioning workstations, collaboration areas, and the employee café nearest the windows, where views can be enjoyed by the most people. A mix of meeting rooms, offices, workstations, and collaboration zones form work “neighborhoods.” Throughout the office, the ongoing dialogue between upscale and industrial elements creates an environment that is sophisticated while still comfortable and unpretentious, capturing the firm’s leadership position as well as its inclusive, approachable culture.

What was the client’s brief? 

AEW Capital Management asked Elkus Manfredi Architects to design a culturally transformative workplace for its office in Boston’s Seaport District. Company leadership sought to offer a rich mix of options for employees to encourage collaboration and mentoring, build community, and allow people to work in environments suited to their individual working styles so they could do their best work.

What inspired the design of the project?

From the start, our design team was inspired by the commitment of AEW leadership to their employees, by their open-minded and collaborative exploration of new ways of thinking about workspace, and the trust they put in us to achieve their vision. They were deeply immersed in exploring new ways of supporting their employees through design, from the choice of furniture for each neighborhood “back porch,” to the investment in the HELP art portfolio as part of their art collection, to pursuing – and achieving – WELL Gold certification. AEW stressed that they had a great firm culture and wanted to preserve and strengthen that. So their goal for the design was to create an office that was comfortable and casual enough for their unpretentious culture, while also upscale enough to reflect AEW’s global leadership stature for visiting investors and clients. We designed and built the project during the pandemic, so the employee engagement process was more important than ever.  

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The client team and the design team needed to figure out together how to complete the project during the pandemic. Pivoting to remote work during design presented challenges for designers because there were finishes not fully selected at the time construction began as soon as the City of Boston allowed. To make selections as a team and get approvals from the client when we were not all in a room together, the design team had daily Zoom meetings and samples were sent to designers’ homes, clients’ homes, or to the office, where team members would go separately to review them. During construction, there were delays due to supply chain problems and construction site protocols, which, although necessary, took time away from the schedule­ – when someone tested positive for the virus, the general contractor had to send that crew home for a week. Pulling together under such adverse conditions was inspiring for both the client and design teams, which helped move the project forward in spite of obstacles.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

A huge highlight was how excited AEW’s employees were to come into the office when construction was complete. The design team was still going through punch list items and the AEW workspace was already filled with staff. This was before returning to the office was taking hold in any meaningful way, so the packed office was a testament to the success of the project. We all felt that a big part of the staff’s enthusiasm arose from the employee engagement co-creation process we utilized during the design period, which allowed everyone to become invested in the outcome.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The office that grew out of our partnership with AEW combines the best strategic design thinking about the workplace of the future with the quiet integrity of AEW’s mission, the firm’s inclusive culture, and the leadership stature of its brand. It is a timeless but timely investment in the company’s future that will inspire AEW’s acclaimed workforce and attract top talent for many years to come. We wanted to share the AEW office with SBID’s audience as an example of a “magnet” workplace, an office co-created with employees where they choose to be because they know it’s where they can do their best work.

Questions answered by Elizabeth Lowrey FIIDA, RDI, Principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Workplace Fit Out Project of the Year category, Modus Workspace, Kristy Foster shares how the team designed an office that responds to the occupants’ needs and encourages socialisation, as well as how they incorporated playfulness into a professional setting.

Outstanding office design means removing barriers to communication, encouraging interaction and creating a positive environment in which people can thrive. The Numis project seeks to create such a place. 

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

The design brief was simple. “Take the company to the next level in terms of the client and staff experience – provide best in class facilities and encourage interaction and communication. And don’t forget to allow for 10 years seamless growth…!!”

The space selected was spread over three levels, so immediately we considered the potential for an accommodation staircase to dynamically connect all parts of the organisation, promoting interaction and a sense of togetherness. To further breakout areas were strategically placed to maximise accessibility to the external terraces.

The design exploits the stunning views of London’s skyline by creating an open, unhindered view to the horizon on entry to reception, this played a vital role in curating an impactful client experience.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The highlight would have to be seeing how happy the client is in their new space. It is an amazing feeling to see clients not only enjoy the space for themselves but also be excited to show it off. We have built a lifelong relationship with the client team which is another huge highlight of the project.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

Winning an SBID International Design Award is a super high achievement and one in which we are incredibly proud. Being evaluated by both leading industry experts as well as the public is what makes this win so special, highlighting the projects attraction to a wide demographic.

How do you see the workspace designed for people to thrive in? What makes it different from regular offices?

With Numis we created a uniquely tailored workplace setting that adheres to the needs and requirements of the business. This was done by conducting a survey during the concept stage of the project to gain a detailed understanding of the types and amount of collaboration settings, meeting spaces and everyday amenities needed by the individual neighbourhoods.

One main breakout area allows all neighbourhoods to connect and meet, allowing teams that cannot sit near one another due to separations to come together to work and socialise. The main circulation route and staircase which runs through the heart of the workspace further adds to this notion of togetherness, brining teams together quickly and efficiently.

What was the most important thing to keep in mind when designing an office focused on communication and collaboration?

Firstly, it was essential to know how and where teams interact by putting ourselves in our clients’ shoes as it were, fully understanding their day to day needs. Creating dividing spaces to break up desk areas helped to create a collaborative focal point for each neighbourhood, enabling teams to work as efficiently as possible. The large breakout space provides a suitable space for hosting events, with the ability to place large screens for town hall meetings or to watch sporting events, homing in on this sense of communication and collaborating from a social perspective. Taking this even further an auditorium space kitted out with state-of-the-art technology and practical seating provides the client with a more formal gathering space, ideal for internal and external gathering.

How did you make sure the employees could stay focused and find privacy in such an open and collaborative space? Was it challenging to keep it professional while also introducing vibrancy and playfulness into the office?

Adding quiet pods, phone booths and zoom rooms enabled employees to choose focused settings to work in, all of which were not bookable, increasing their flexibility. In general, the company worked in a relatively quiet environment, so keeping the team focused wasn’t a huge challenge. Some acoustic solutions were applied in collaboration and meeting areas to reduce reverberation, but due to the nature of the business and its culture not much more was required.

The fact that we had three floors to work with enabled us to be playful with the space. The 7^th and 8^th floors had their own unique look in comparison to the 9^th floor. The client focused 9^th floor was a high-end luxury space with bronze metal, stone worktops with indulgent fabrics applied to the joinery pieces. The working floors on the other hand incorporated a handful of playful colours. It was this client / working floor separation that gave us some extra wiggle room when designing for both playfulness and professionalism.

Questions answered by Kirsty Foster, Senior Designer, Modus Workspace.

A careful selection of finishes was chosen to utilise those that are designed with recycling and afterlife in mind. Some of the finishes include: FENIX – a durable material that has obtained various certifications related to interior design applications; Quartz – inherently eco-friendly since the natural quartz material that composes much of it comes directly from the earth; Tarkett carpet tiles – a global leader in sustainability.

The main sustainable features of the space include:

• Whole life carbon performance including contribution to the circular economy: low energy use achieved by choosing a newly refurbished CAT-A building; natural ventilation enabled by large external windows for ventilation during warm weather.
• Low carbon impact: due to the fact that employees are able to work from home, CO2 levels in the office will never reach or exceed maximum levels.
• Circularity (not simply recycling): in addition to recycling hubs throughout the office, afterlife considerations are taken into account for furniture and finishes.

• Waste avoidance: avoiding plastic bottles by installing an instant tap which generates hot/cold/sparkling water; minimising paper printing; keeping digital devices turned off when not in use; setting a short timing on PIR system; the company is going digital with most of their previous administration files, so there is no need for additional storage or new documents.
• Health and wellbeing of the occupants: to ensure the wellbeing of employees, the office space allows employees to utilize different types of spaces in the office to work and concentrate, as well as to facilitate collaboration within teams and individuals.
• Social value: as the office is located in Watford, it is close to most of its employees’ homes and helps to keep local economies thriving.

If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

4SPACE is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. Can you tell us how the company grew to this stage and what your visions are for the future? 

From humble beginnings, 4SPACE has grown from a small, humble office and a team of two to a buzzing design entity with over 20 employees with an expansive and vibrant office in the heart of Dubai.

Founders Firas Alsahin and Amjad Hourieh always dreamed big. They understand that dreams without goals are merely dreams. They set appropriate goals and put in place a comprehensive 10-year plan to provide a roadmap for the necessary steps to achieve success. By the tenth anniversary, Design Middle East Awards bestowed 4SPACE the prestigious boutique firm of the year award in 2022. 4SPACE continues to grow, and the team aims to be the top international architectural and interior design firm by 2032, with branches across Europe and Asia. They have various projects in the pipeline, including hype entertainment venues, government commercial spaces, unique food and beverage concepts and a hospitality project.

Within the next five years, 4SPACE intends to transform from a boutique design studio to a much larger design firm with at least 50 employees by 2027 and over 140 by 2032. They aspire to be one of the top five design firms within the region by 2027. They aim to have a sustainable business model and dynamic company structure so that the company can expand into new areas of business, clients and markets. 4SPACE targets companies and private clients seeking a one-of-a-kind design and superior service. They are adopting a new company structure, systems, workflow, techniques and a sophisticated hiring strategy to achieve these changes. They anticipate that 4SPACE will promote much of their team to take on additional responsibilities and be involved in managing this vision and development.

How have you found that projects, their requirements and client expectations have changed throughout your years in practice?

Client expectations and requirements vary depending on market trends. Pre-pandemic, clients wanted open and shared spaces for a collaborative environment. During the pandemic, privacy and partition-closed spaces became necessary, with the online market and cloud kitchen prevalent. Post-pandemic, clients want innovative and sustainable designs. 4SPACE created many mind-blowing ideas from various techniques and 3D software programmes. Because of these changes, the team at 4SPACE has adapted, followed trends, learned new softwares and techniques and explored a host of different materials and designs.

Do you think the Metaverse will impact the interior design profession? What opportunities could it present for interior designers?

The Metaverse is having an impressive impact on the design industry. Alsahin explains, “Brands and businesses will be more and more willing to be a part of the next big thing; they will need to exist where their customers exist and in order to achieve that, they need to invest in the virtual world”.

Alsahin believes that the Metaverse is a stepping stone to cultural evolution and a limitless capacity for art. There are many more opportunities for designers inclined to use 3D software programmes. They used to quote, “From sketch to reality” with the formation of Meta4SPACE, the mantra has changed to “From sketch to metaverse world”. Alsahin continues, “In the near future, users will be able to use augmented reality smart glasses, which are wearable computer-capable glasses that add extra information; ideally 3D images and information such as animations and videos, to the user’s real-world scenes by overlaying the computer-generated or digital information over the user’s real-world”. Now that everything is limitless and with the advent of various Metaverse environments, the industry will need skilled designers and architects who can master future virtual and AI technology. “Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technology will become important not just to present a designed space as a visualization method, but rather to be a designed form of space itself”.

What are the most notable achievements 4SPACE has accomplished over the past decade?

It takes many years to create something special. Over the last decade, 4SPACE has created a great team, has access to better technology and creating new goals. The team has received numerous awards and recognitions from internationally acclaimed award-winning bodies, including the SBID overall winner in 2018 and Design Middle East Awards boutique firm of the year 2022. With project requirements increasing, there is a new wave of employment opportunities post-pandemic. The new office space is fully automated and includes a new architecture company and Meta4SPACE and increasing staff levels. Power 50 nominated Alsahin for fourth place in this coveted award.

What key advice would you give to emerging designers for building a successful interior design business? 

As the old saying goes, “no man is an island”. Building a company in a foreign land has its challenges. Success requires sound finances, and self and team trust are hugely important. 4SPACE has created a great team, ensures that no one is self-sufficient and encourages the team to rely on and support each other. Together, the team has various goals, ensuring they achieve them no matter what. Alsahin and Hourieh encourage their teams to succeed, be inspired, share insights and do better each day. They understand that physical and mental health is important and inspire their teams to have a healthy work-life balance, enjoy the fruits of their labour and pay it forward.

Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder, 4SPACE.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories with SBID, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a dynamic and creative office design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, TT Interior Office Design.

What was the client’s brief? 

This is a mobile and social gaming company popular with young people domestically. The company has many subsidiary product brands and cultivates e-sports teams for mobile games. Its slogan that there is no lonely playmate in the world is also recognized by many post-90s and post-00s players or employees.

What inspired the design of the project?

The pronoun derived from Quwan is full of fashion, passion, youth, creativity and endless fun. The original idea of the design was to integrate these elements into a carrier, a planet that could fully express and carry the expectations of one billion players around the world instead of Quwan. The Planet of Quwan, the Planet of Happiness.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The toughest hurdle was the restriction of ceiling height that made it challenging to unify the lamp belt of the front desk ceiling. Another challenge was the installation and fixation of gypsum board ceiling, and relying on two fulcrum for support of the aluminum plate modeling of the spacecraft. Loading the stairs into the spacecraft and transporting the large modules to the site for assembly also brought about some troubles during the installation process.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The design of the space fits it’s story concept perfectly and the theme embodies technology, fashion and change, the colorful atmosphere seeping through unified aluminum plate material and electronic dynamic light belt.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Since we won the SBID award last year, we wanted to show more excellent work to everyone and we hope that the reputation of SBID can help improve the value of our brand.

Questions answered by Ruby Chou, Founder, TT Interior Office Design.

PwC, a renowned professional services provider, has made a significant investment in the city of Belfast by relocating its offices to Merchant Square. The move to the city centre comes from a desire to not only support the growth of the company, but to signal its confidence in the area and encourage other businesses to take a similar initiative.

The new workplace is spread across 200,000 sq ft over nine floors and provides the regional hub for around 3,000 employees. The building is an amalgamation of three existing structures with a dramatic feature staircase linking floors four, five and six. The hope is that the new office will help to increase employee numbers over the next few years, meaning the design needed to have versatility as well as longevity. To meet both of these requirements, a wide range of KI furniture was specified by the lead interior designer, BDP.

On four of the levels, KI’s Colonnade system is being used to create user-controlled, open-plan spaces which the teams can quickly customise depending on the immediate need. Each Colonnade comprises 800 Series cupboard and drawer units integrated with 800 Series Shelving. Semi-sheer Kvadrat Acoustic Drops curtains feature on each open side of the structure and divide up the space for meeting or work settings. To maximise the system’s flexibility, Colonnade Cube stools were also chosen as they can be neatly stored away within the unit’s structure. The stools are upholstered in a variety of fabrics and colours to best complement the Colonnade units.

Moveable easels hook over the overhead gantry rails at any point and these are accessorised with magnetic backed whiteboards which also store away neatly in the open shelving when they are not being used.

Two different colour schemes were specified for the Colonnade systems, one of which uses vibrant colours that echo the shipbuilding heritage of Belfast. Bright yellow powder coated easels pay homage to the nearby Harland and Wolff cranes, whilst bright blue and red powder coats emulate well-established maritime engineering colour schemes.

Annabelle Hadlow, project architect at BDP, said: “Materials and furniture specification is always important to PwC. We have a fantastic understanding of its design aspirations and how the offices reflect the cities in which they are located whilst providing functional and flexible spaces. For Merchant Square, the furniture was crucial in achieving the right, characteristic design and the right levels of adaptability across all floors.”

Throughout the office space, a variety of other KI designs provide seating and tables to support both the impromptu and more focused work practices that are required. These include Zig poseur height tables and Work2.1 Sit-Stand tables in a variety of finishes such as graphite Fenix tops on raw steel, black and yellow under-structures. These tables provide ideal settings for dropdown work and casual collaboration.

KI’s Take5 high back armchairs adorn multiple areas and are upholstered in a variety of fabrics and colours. Ruckus chairs on castors are located around collaboration tables and inside the Colonnades. The innovative design of the Ruckus is also ideal for sit-stand tables, allowing a person to either sit in the chair or perch on its backrest, depending on the height setting of the table.

Throughout the building are 800 Series personal lockers fitted with RFID wireless lock technology which can be remotely monitored and controlled by the facility management teams. Some larger versions are also located in the basement area to provide cloak and leisure storage. Other specifications of matching 800 Series cabinets, recycling units, and tambour cupboards – a PwC standard – can also be found in the back office service areas.

With the aim to turn this apartment into a truly luxurious gentleman’s private office, Juliettes Interiors was commissioned to design a working environment that wasn’t only practical and professional for Zoom and in-person meetings, but a space that was also strikingly beautiful and sophisticated. The option to stay late at the ‘office’ as well as provide an overnight base was also required, with a living-style zone added for maximum comfort.

Due to the apartment’s compact size, spatial planning was not an easy task, so Juliettes Interiors chose to introduce customised pieces of furniture to ensure the right flow was achieved throughout the space with each piece working in harmony together. In one small living space, Juliette and her team needed to create three zones: a living area, kitchen/dining and office.

With detail at its core, the design scheme needed to be cohesive. Dark tones and luxurious fabrics have been skilfully layered, paired with a variety of textures and bold brassware accessories – from the striking pendant light above the table to the dressing table in the bedroom. The large windows allow for plenty of natural light to flood the rooms, adding depth and interest to the dark décor.

The living area has been designed with a strong entertaining social element in mind, with a variety of different zones. Each zoned area was as important as the other. Bang & Olufsen equipment has been installed for a high-tech finish, ideal for meetings, and the client wanted a perfect backdrop from behind as a Zoom screen for international meetings. The office is set up in the living space at the centre of the apartment. A premium Italian leather desk and chair complement the dark wood and brass detailed designer desk, blending together for an incredibly opulent final product.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

In the 30 years since it was founded, TSAR Carpets create holistic compositions that empower its wide range of clientele — from commercial, hospitality, and residential customers — to achieve a cohesive architectural expression from the ground up. Born from a passion for textiles and enchanted by the hand-tufted technique, TSAR Carpets is continuously inspired by the German concept of the “gesamtkunstwerk,” meaning “a total work of art” — with TSAR Carpets founder David Sharpley describing the handtufting process as “painting with fibres.”

Known for their design work in both the public and private sector, the award-winning Melbourne-based architecture firm Lyons enlisted TSAR Carpets to install approximately 104.34 m2 of its signature freeform hand-tufted carpet in its office space, providing a colour-forward palette full of flair and panache.

Firm founder Carey Lyon chose to work with TSAR again to outfit the office after his immense satisfaction with the custom hand-tufted carpet he sourced for his private residence, proving that TSAR Carpets’ unparalleled flooring proficiency can be applied to a variety of applications, functions and environments.

Private residence design

The home of Carey Lyon required exceptional hand-tufted flooring for four various spaces in his home, including a hallway, sitting area, lounge and study. Carey turned to the TSAR Carpets team for its expertise and honest advice. As a brand that is not afraid to take risks, TSAR’s company-owned value chain allows the team to continually experiment and perfect a multitude of construction techniques.

Working closely with TSAR’s team, Carey designed the carpet’s pattern, which is based on standard cartographic symbols for a swamp. (Used on maps, cartographic symbols are coloured lines that serve as legends to denote areas of vegetation, water, and contours, etc.) The aim of the design was to summon the history of the old wetland landscapes of the Yaluk-ut Weelam people of Port Phillip Bay who were lost under the ‘reclaimed’ swamplands of Elwood. To bring the swamp landscape to life, colour was another thoughtful consideration and Carey and the team reviewed several different custom poms before settling on brown and blue shades that best matched the carpet’s marshy theme.

The challenge of flooring the irregular shape of each of the four unique areas within Carey’s home presented the team with an opportunity to achieve custom solutions — the exact placement of each blue swamp-like “pond” was a highly meticulous and diligent feat, which the team was able to execute in a timely and thorough manner.

“Optimal performance and product longevity is the impetus for all of our designs and projects. We understand the custom process thoroughly and treat every project with care,” says Sharpley.

Office design

With the office, Carey and the Lyons team returned to TSAR as they were seeking a flooring partner who could provide a cohesive, durable and innovative design for its highly-trafficked lobby, library and four meeting rooms. Like Carey’s home, the team gravitated towards a hand-tufted solution due to its high-quality utility and material ability to produce stunning patterns.

“TSAR Carpets treats every custom project with care and detail. We were excited to once again partner with the team thanks to the company’s incredible technical proficiency and emphasis on performance,” says Carey Lyon.

Originally the design brief called for a continuous rainbow appearance featuring more than 58 colours, but due to budget constraints TSAR and Lyons teams joined forces to find a happy solution that balanced aesthetics, budget and performance, ensuring Lyons received the most desirable product. In the end, the client was overjoyed with the final result: An original selection of energetic and colorful flooring compositions featuring a one-of-a-kind point of view.

“Comfort and connection don’t just belong in the home. I was thrilled to incorporate TSAR’s exquisite flooring into our office environment to provide our employees and visitors with a sense of optimism and day-to-day joy,” says Carey Lyon.

“Clients continue to work with us because we value performance and value, just as much as we appreciate the incorporation of bold colors, patterns, and forms,” says Sharpley.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.