Architects Datafile (ADF) – August 2019

(^)
moderated on the second floor – the
‘arrival’ floor for visitors as well as
subscribing coworking members, which has
been designed as a “tranquil green oasis,” to
offset the hubbub of Regent Street. In the
centre of the floor is a large planted area
surrounded by tan leather-covered seating,
introducing an informal feel.
There is also a large green wall, a
technology-enhanced boardroom, and
flexible venue space, the design being “all
about people,” says Eaglesham. The
venue space is designed to rotate between
wellbeing classes, coworking space,
presentations, and entertainment, as
required by members or the client.
Floors three to five are the ‘core office
floors,’ supporting “a multitude of agile
working styles,” and each providing the
same range of features and a broadly
similar basic layout. Eaglesham explains:
“The client liked the idea that every floor
offers the full suite of working styles, rather
than – as you would have in a traditional
office or some coworking spaces – one floor
of meeting rooms, one with amenity and
kitchen, and offices on another one. The top
(sixth) floor is the exception, providing a
hybrid of breakout space, open plan desks,
private spaces and a multi-purpose
media/screening room.
Each floor has a small social kitchen area
(called a ‘tea point’), facing the lift. This
aids “natural wayfinding,” says Eaglesham,
and each floor has coworking spaces
located to the left, with office and desk
space on the right. Between them is a
further amenity space, which on some
floors house ping-pong tables, or flexible
working spaces.
Although each floor has a similar layout,
the flexibility for users is wide-ranging.
“As a member, you can choose whether
you have a fixed desk or an office, and you
can specify whether that is a two, three, six
or eight person office etc,” explains
Eaglesham. They also get to use the
amenities such as games rooms, hot desking
and venue space.
The architects regularly use the British
Council of Offices (BCO) ‘Guide to
Specification’ to “set the principles for any
scheme,” and, combining the BCO’s
standards with HSE guidelines, their space
plan created denser areas of private office
space that are offset by open, breakout
spaces. Also, WC cores were introduced,
providing showers and locker facilities on
each floor, as well as accessible WCs.
For the private offices, a “logical, cellular
office layout” which follows a grid pattern
to enable glass partitions be removed easily,
say the architects. These also maximise
natural light into the space. Eaglesham
comments: “Office interior design is about
trying to let as much as natural light
through as possible, so there are lots of
transparent partitions and glazing.”
Rooflights have been included – both flush
within the floor of the terrace, and to the
roof of the sixth floor above it.
Curved glass sections at circulation nodes
help to bring a further informality to the
spaces. “At the heart of the design is a vital
sense of community and wellbeing,” says
Eaglesham, “interactions are encouraged
throughout, with spaces for collaboration,
discussion and even relaxation.”
There are no artificial plants, but instead
a cornucopia of growing ones, meaning
plants are visible from every desk. What are
said to be “relatively low maintenance”
irrigation systems are hidden within the
planters as well as in the green wall
structure and seating in the second floor
welcome area.
In order to help the scheme meet the
requirements of the Well Institute (which
Curved glass sections at
circulation nodes help to
bring a further informality
to the spaces
26PROJECT REPORT: COMMERCIAL & WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF AUGUST 2019