The UK’s market leader in luxury vinyl flooring, Karndean Designflooring, has introduced a comfortable human scale experience to an uncompromisingly modern office building with a soft industrial style bespoke floor that compliments the large open plan space and reflects its iconic cityscape views.
With an unrivalled panorama across the city, Argyll’s Nova North offers a prestigious office environment in the heart of London’s Victoria. Looking to re-imagine part of the building to provide high end office and co-working spaces, Argyll opted for a clean minimalist look with a focus on acoustic benefits.
Karndean partnered with interior designer Emma Turner to create a high-end coworking space and lounge area in what was previously an underused bar area on the double height mezzanine 11th floor. Combining the practicality of Karndean LooseLay with the versatility of its Opus gluedown range, the bespoke floor balances the industrial nature of the building with timeless elegance and ensures that the updated interior is instantly understandable so customers can easily identify how to best use and navigate the space.
Fleur Carson, commercial sales director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “Karndean flooring is a perfect choice for busy workplaces. With an authentic look of stone flooring but without any of the downsides, Karndean offers a tough surface for high traffic areas that’s undemanding when it comes to maintenance. Its consistent thickness makes it eminently suitable for bespoke designs, either by blending complementary stone designs as at Nova North or even combining wood and stone designs alongside each other.”
“As part of the project proposal, our design service graphically conceptualised the flooring within the interior, simulating every detail of the user experience so that the client could visualise the end result. By specifying a combination of gluedown and loose lay formats, we have been able to provide the triple benefits of a practical durable surface, bespoke design and superior acoustic benefits.”
With a paired back scheme in shades of warm grey and natural biophilic elements in tune with the building and its locality, the bespoke floor features a clean look of poured concrete alongside a statement 3D tile effect.
Emma Turner explained: “It was clear that the design of the 10th and 11th mezzanine floors had to start and finish with the spectacular views across central London. It was important that the interior should not distract from what lies outside the windows but feel at one with the skyline. This defined how the space was split into different activity zones, how we orientated seating and also set the colour palette.”
The multi-dimensional pattern of Cubix from Karndean’s Kaleidoscope range has been created with three shades of grey from the Opus range, Mico, Luna and Ombra. These striking geometric lines has brought the coworking area to life, introducing interest and depth to balance the clean angles of the bold contemporary building.
Sitting alongside this working zone, Quebec from the Karndean LooseLay range creates a restful seating area and walkway to the board room at the rear of the mezzanine. Opting for extra-large scale tiles (1000mm x 1000mm) in a block pattern has resulted in a seamless poured concrete effect that’s highly realistic.
With sustainability high on the agenda, many of the existing features were repurposed and upcycled within the new design. The large back bar has been remodelled as a kitchenette, painted in charcoal grey to harmonize with the black industrial staircase, while some of the lighting has been reused and other joinery reinvented within co-working stations.
The durability of Karndean flooring is integral to meeting the project’s sustainability targets. Using a loose lay format along the main walkway, where wear and tear is heaviest, is an effective strategy as each tile can be relifted and replaced if necessary, thus reducing waste over the lifespan of the interior.
Emma concluded: “The floor was the key element for the mezzanine level. We are delighted how the Cubix introduces a sense of fun and breaks up the huge floor space with an interesting pattern yet also links together all the elements of the colour palette without overpowering the overall effect. The mezzanine floor now feels comfortable despite being a large open area and the more time you spend there, the calmer and more positive you feel.”
About Karndean Designflooring
Karndean Designflooring is a global supplier of commercial and residential luxury vinyl tile flooring. We’re an industry leader in flooring design, offering a wide range of colours, textures and finishes, helping you to create unique looks guaranteed to last.
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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.
About Welltek Ltd
The Founders of Welltek feel strongly based on their own experiences that it’s not enough to design interiors that look amazing. Obviously, everyone wants to live and work in an environment that looks great but whether a space is healthy is often overlooked. Welltek believes that the built environment should do us good, not harm. So we provide solutions that enhance air quality and natural light, as well as award winning, *multi-functional* furniture designed to reduce noise pollution and everyday stress – the elements which we believe most affect human health from the moment you step into the building.
Following a period of rapid growth, consumer engagement platform Braze has recently moved into the City of London’s Broadgate Exchange Square. Outgrowing their presence at a nearby shared co-working facility, the company wanted their new dedicated facilities to be an employee attraction tool, whilst also being as ‘future-ready’ as possible. Making the workspace desirable and enjoyable was an important consideration for the company, who exercise a fully agile, hybrid working policy.
The design intent and space plan of the new office was undertaken by AIS Interiors, with the furniture dealer by Bailey (now Insidesource) procuring and installing the furniture. To support worker wellbeing and meet employee expectations, all workstations across the floor are sit-stand. These 258 workstations greatly outnumber current employee numbers, but are in place in anticipation of further, rapid expansion.
Banks of desks are punctuated with large collaboration tables to provide alternative work settings adjacent to workstations. Should the company expand yet further beyond the current provisions, these collaboration tables have been configured in dimensions exactly equivalent to 6-person benches, allowing rapid switching out whilst causing minimal disruption.
The 258 KI Work2.1 Sit-Stand desk workstations have been configured with ‘E Series’ screens finished with Camira Sumi Yabu SUR20, Camira Sumi Handa SUR10 & Camira Sumi Daisen SUR09, and a white beading. These fabrics were especially selected to suit other furniture in each respective neighbourhood but are not usually used for screens as they have a weave. When stretched over screens, this weave can often look warped or distorted, however the KI factory managed to create an elegant and seamless finish for this bespoke request.
Generally arranged as groups of 6, many of these workstations feature a fixed-height ‘D’ end table that creates collaboration space and prevents people needing to squeeze in-between desks for impromptu gatherings. These tables blend into the workstation configuration but are in fact freestanding so can be moved to create finger safety gaps next to the desks, or even removed if necessary.
The KI Work2.1 Sit-Stand desks were chosen for their advanced cable management system. The clever design of the lower cable tray of this system makes cable distribution easier and totally hidden between desks, whilst reducing the size and number of floor grommets required.
The large floorplate uses furniture, screens, and planting to delineate space, whilst shelving has been avoided to reduce the accumulation of visible clutter over time. Arranged into neighbourhoods, the office features mostly neutral colours.
The colours used on desk screens blend into their adjacent breakout areas, and bolder colours have been used in spaces furnished with high tables and soft seating that provide informal meeting spaces within the open plan. There are numerous standalone pods and booths, as well as traditional meeting rooms to provide a rich variety of work space types to suit different people and functions.
JJ Bailey, Business Development Director at Insidesource, commented, “We’ve worked with KI on many projects and their service is always of an excellent standard and their products are of the highest quality. The Work2.1 Sit-Stand desk is no exception.”
About KI
KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments for their people. Bringing together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.
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.
SBID Awards Category: Office Design Over 2,000 SqM
Practice: Elkus Manfredi Architects
Project: AEW Capital Management
Location: Massachusetts, United States of America
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a glamorous bathroom design by Jasmin Reese Interiors, click here to read it.
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.
SBID Awards Category: Workplace Fit Out Project of the Year
Practice: Modus Workspace
Entry: A New Era for Numis
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 7th and 8th floors had their own unique look in comparison to the 9th floor. The client focused 9th 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.
Starting her design career at Modus as an Interior Design and Architecture graduate in 2018, it is safe to say Kirsty has made her mark and quickly rose through the ranks, recently being promoted to Senior Designer. Kirsty displays the unique ability to delve past the surface requirements and create positive relationships with clients that allow her to understand what her clients want to achieve. Kirsty has worked on projects that range from 5,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft, including the office design for well-known brands such as William Hill, Schindler’s Lifts, Numis and BC Partners.
If you missed last week’s Interview with the Overall winner Clara Lleal Interiorista, click here to read it.
Workspace Design Show returns for the second time, unveiling an exciting speaker line-up and an extensive exhibitor list as part of its 2023 edition. Taking place once again at London’s Business Design Centre, the show brings together the UK’s workplace interiors community to explore the experience of tomorrow’s workspaces.
The show will take place from 27- 28 February 2023, with this year’s theme being Destination Workplace: Places Where People Want To Be. One of the highlights from the inaugural 2022 edition was the Show’s talks programme, which was well received by the workplace design community.
Workspaces are increasingly requiring multifunctional products. Furniture designer Pedrali will be exhibiting the multifunctional BuddyHub Desk, a functional and efficient workstation where users can concentrate and isolate or create collaborative and meeting areas. Spacestor will be launching their newest product development, Aeonica, a space-making toolkit for designers which brings the New Landscape for Work.
RS Barcelona will showcase other fully flexible products, among them its ‘you and me’ ping pong table which caters for the recent trend ‘microbreaks’ which are proven to increase productivity. With mental and physical well-being at the forefront of workplace design, Technogym will be showcasing elements of its product ecosystem: connected smart equipment for end-user access wellness.
Workspace Design Show has every surface covered from flooring to fabrics, which are increasingly used to define different spaces within an office floorplate. Flooring specialists Tarkett and Strata Tiles will both be exhibiting, demonstrating their latest surface solutions. Exploring the importance of colour and texture through fabrics is Kvadrat, a well-renowned textiles company, which produces high-performance, design textiles, rugs, acoustic and window covering solutions for both commercial and residential uses. BIOHM will present the bio materials exhibition, with biological systems at the heart of its inspiration.
Workspace Design Show is showcasing a vast range of products that aid privacy and sound control. Amongst these are award winning firm The Meeting Pod Company, known for their commercial and domestic, indoor and outdoor meeting pods. Mute, meanwhile, will be displaying various solutions to regain focus and allow conversations to flow. Making a return to the show are leaders in sustainable and acoustic finishes, Woven Image, who will be demonstrating the importance of ceilings in acoustic control.
The event will also host some of the industry’s leading architectural lighting specialists, demonstrating the move away from harsh office lighting towards more human-centric solutions. The exhibitors include Erco which has a whole portfolio based entirely on LED technology and Delta Light, recognised throughout the world for its subtle blend of ambiance, elegance, functionality, and design, both in interior and exterior lighting. The Indoor and Outdoor intelligent lighting specialist, iGuzzini will also be exhibiting their latest products.
A wide array of leading architects and designers will also be showcasing their perspectives on the latest workplace trends.
Confirmed speakers for 2023 hail from a raft of stakeholder groups, from developers to architects and their blue-chip clients. These include architects and designers such as Collin Burry, Design Principal with Gensler; Christos Passas, Director, Zaha Hadid Architects, Katrina Kostic Samen, Director and Head of Workplace Strategy & Design, and others.
International furniture specialist The Furniture Practice are curating the Talks Lounge once again this year, as well as collaborating with architectural firm BDP on the newly added talks space. The spaces are set to feature iconic brands including Vitra, Fredericia, Arper, Andreu World, and Moroso amongst others.
In a series of talks, interviews and discussions, the Sustainability Works programme will bring together a selection of key figures behind the workplace market’s leading sustainable initiatives, projects and product developments. Curated by Mick Jordan and the Works editorial team, it is a response to sustainability’s place at the top of the workplace agenda.
Workspace Design Show will also be hosting the Occupiers Forum – ‘The view from HQ’. Among the speakers from corporate organisations are Michelle Harwood, EMEA Real Estate Director, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; Ash Kaur, Workplace Design Lead for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Oracle, and others. This gives visitors the opportunity to hear perspectives from current senior workplace end users, exploring the present and future demands of high-profile firms.
The Finishes and Interiors Sector Conference (FIS) will take place over both days of Workspace Design Show too. The first day will focus on the compliance and the fit-out process: creating the best possible environments to put the wow factor into buildings, while the second day will focus around creating destination workspaces: places where people want to be.
The complete speaking programme at Workspace Design Show will cover a range of unmissable topics around workplace design and strategy featuring speakers with a diverse range of perspectives.
Explore the programme and register to attend.
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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.
SBID Awards Category: Office Design Under 2,000 SqM
Practice: TT Interior Office Design
Project: TT Interior Office
Location: Guangzhou, China
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a glamorous oak home design by Space Studio, click here to read it.
Demonstrating the unsurpassed versatility of its flooring, Karndean Designflooring has given CoVault’s Glasgow head office a unique focal point that has returned the elegance and drama to a once neglected historic city centre building.
The Category B listed building in Bath Street, formerly the residence of a previous Lord Provost, convener of Glasgow City Council, has been restored to its former glory and is now home to CoVault’s head office and a contemporary workspace which provides a one-stop-shop for local entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
Fleur Carson, commercial sales director at Karndean Designflooring, said: “Hybrid working has become the new standard in many industries. By converting unused properties into flexible co-working spaces, we can not only revitalise our city centres but also benefit from the opportunity to work in new and collaborative ways.
“While it’s important to innovate to ensure a successful future, it’s also key to pay homage to the history of these protected buildings. Our designs are inspired by natural materials and manufactured with the latest cutting edge technology, therefore offering characterful floors that are architecturally sympathetic yet eminently practical for busy modern life.”
Making the most of the large open plan space whilst keeping the décor appropriate to the age of the building, the interior has been visually divided into activity zones using complementary flooring patterns and statement wall treatments, with comfortable furniture arranged into intimate hubs.
Inspired by boutique hospitality venues, the interior combines the sophistication of traditional style with the very best of contemporary design, featuring a neutral colour scheme in warm whites and greys with interesting pops of bold colours, a blend of cosy tactile materials and edgy soft furnishing and wallpaper designs. The floor features a timeless oak parquet design and a geometric tiled pattern inspired by grand Victorian villas. In the centre of the room, a bespoke focal point has been created with a hand-cut pattern in a selection of stone designs.
Victoria Scott, project manager at CoVault, explained: “The history of the building was an important consideration when specifying the flooring. The rear of the building, which now houses CoVault’s head office is believed to have been the ballroom. So, when we chose the floor design we knew it was important that this complemented the period of the property and also injected some grandeur back into the outdated space.
“I was keen to work with local businesses, manufacturers and craftspeople to minimise the carbon footprint of the project. Glasgow designers Timorous Beasties supplied the distinctive wallpaper and fabrics,
while the semi-circular booths were created in Falkirk and the antique pieces of furniture sourced locally and refinished here in Glasgow.
“The custom cut central flooring feature was designed to echo the luxurious previous life of this room. It sits beautifully under the domed copula, which is itself a thing of beauty as well as an engineering marvel. The amalgamation of all the different patterns, textures, and finishes has pulled the space together beautifully and given it a welcoming ‘home from home’ atmosphere. The initial wow factor really doesn’t wear thin when people come into the space for the first time.”
Designed to replicate the characteristics and beauty of natural materials but without any of the drawbacks that come with installing and maintaining the real thing, Karndean Designflooring offers a wide range of wood, stone and abstract designs, enabling designers to create unique floors that stand out for all the right reasons. With the ability to specify hand-cut bespoke designs, there are endless possibilities for a fully customised floor.
To view Karndean’s range of floors, visit karndeancommercial.com or follow @karndeancommercialuk on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Our design process begins with a meeting…with nature. We see flooring differently. Pushing the boundaries has to be an adventure of discovery. It’s why we travel the world for inspiration. From the ancient European woodlands to the Australian outback, we pack our bags and go there. Every time, we connect with something extraordinary that shapes our every step. It’s how we bring the unimaginable, inspired from the outdoors, indoors.
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.
KI’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning environments. Bringing together good design, advanced engineering and sustainable resources, KI’s products are durable, flexible and offer excellent value.
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.
About Juliettes Interiors
Award-winning interior design studio, Juliettes Interiors brings a level of creativity and exceptional customer service to every project. As well as offering interior design services, the brand is a luxury furniture retailer – specialising in residential, high-end, luxury interiors and property. Offering both personal and trade accounts, services range from supplying a single item of furniture to full project management, new build and property development.
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