Design for life

Achieving a dazzling, functional and modern interior can prove a challenge in traditional London office spaces.  Working with Scott Brownrigg Interior Design, The Interiors Group have completed just this at 3 Lloyd’s Avenue in EC3; the second of three extensive refurbishment projects for top-end serviced office provider, Esselco.  

Having set the precedent with the client for speed and flexibility as their approach to the programme, The Interiors Group continued to accommodate a variety of layout reconfigurations and design enhancements during the project as the client’s brand designs continued to evolve. “When we were looking for a company to refurbish our first building for serviced offices, Warnford Court, we interviewed a number of companies, and were most impressed with The Interiors Group presentation. They also had good references and a reputation of being good guys,” Lloyd Dorfman of Esselco explained. “Comments from people who have seen Warnford Court were ‘well, we didn’t know what to expect but never expected it to come out as well as it has done’. The work and commitment that The Interiors Group put in had made a huge difference, so when it came to deciding who was going to carry out the task on Lloyd’s Avenue, there was no contest,” he said.

The striking 25,000 sq ft refurbishment covers the seven floors of 3 Lloyd’s Avenue, EC3. Throughout the refurbished building, the Lloyd’s Avenue design uses dynamic diagonal lines to create a sense of energy bouncing around the different spaces.  This concept takes its inspiration from the angles of the base build plan layout and is reinforced through the lighting which is made up of diagonal beams in both vertical and horizontal planes.

The clean and minimal design is punctuated by statement interventions including oversized illuminated floor signs in each of the lift lobbies. These gigantic numbers are tilted at a slight angle, reinforcing the diagonal theme. 

On each floor, the lift lobby opens up into the shared break out area for the whole floor. This is a model that Scott Brownrigg developed for Esselco in other locations and has proved very popular with occupiers: it creates a buzz of activity which excites staff and visitors alike, it enables interaction with members of other organisations, and above engenders a sense of ‘home away from home’, adding to the plentiful amenities of this luxury offering.

Three key areas within the building will be the focal points for attracting potential occupiers, the first being the reception space. This was once a gloomy and dated area, which was visually removed from the exterior due to a frosted glass screen; it is now a light and vibrant entrance environment. In particular, a stunning feature AV wall made from cracked mirror glass, as well as the repeated theme of the light beams, is clearly visible from the street creating an eye-catching and captivating statement to passers-by.

The second is a roof terrace, a much-prized external space in the City, which Scott Brownrigg Interior Design and The Interiors Group has transformed from an uninspiring blank space into an ‘outside lounge’. Here the exterior of the building has been re-clad with a stained hardwood and the floor has been covered with a highly sustainable compressed bamboo decking; the step into the internal area is finished in Astroturf in place of a doormat, bringing design humour and an ‘outdoorsy’ aesthetic to the space. The external area is completed with Arper seating and other smart exterior furniture, as well as planters and integral lighting that make it usable throughout the day and evening creating a relaxing and comfortable space suitable for a variety of uses.  

The third distinctive space is the lower ground floor area which provides flexible formal and informal meeting and conference spaces. The client wanted to create a feeling of ‘industrial chic’ with exposed ceilings sprayed black, new light fittings from iGuzzini, Innermost and Tom Dixon and statement furniture including Bene, Boss and Zanotta. 

Unique carriage seating provides cocooned private meetings spaces and a  semi-open break out area incorporates a viewport into the holding area next to the lifts.

The less formal meeting area within the lower ground floor space includes an AV wall that can be used for presentations and conferences, but is also intended as an informal place for staff to relax as the client intends to use it for movie nights, Xbox competitions and, this summer, World Cup football screenings. The AV wall is flanked by the original historic door leafs of the front entrance, which have been replaced to open up the main entrance. A feature glass partition, enclosed by an angled steel frame with a distressed finish, adds to the dynamic and industrial aesthetic.

The simple monochromatic colour palette is punctuated by flashes of colour in the furniture and other elements such as splashbacks and manifestation, with each floor having a specific colour to identify it, making wayfinding an integral part of the design.  

Matthew Davies, general manager of Esselco, is extremely pleased with the work. “We purchased the building very quickly which meant that we had to have plans prepared and put in action with great speed. The Interiors Group and Scott Brownrigg Interior Design moved very quickly on the design ironing out all the problems enabling us to be on site within eight weeks of taking over the building.

“An important part of the brief was for the building to be very different and imaginative for serviced offices. They were to include very comfortable exterior spaces including the outdoor terrace, lounge areas and the imaginative reception – all of which was achieved. The Interiors Group were very flexible and accommodating to all the changes made and we are delighted with the final result. In fact the cost, speed of execution and final result were first class,” Davies added.

Overall, The Interiors Group and Scott Brownrigg’s response to the brief has been to create a serviced office space where occupiers can take ownership of the space, interact with others outside their immediate business and feel proud to host clients and contacts within the communal spaces provided.  This is supported by a youthful and energetic design that will reflect the type of dynamic start-up business Esselco hopes to attract.

The Interiors Group and Scott Brownrigg Interior Design continue to add to the portfolio of combined and successful projects for Essselco, and others, with this highly technical and demanding project. Although the scope includes all disciplines, from external façade refurbishment through to new M& E, they even managed to provide early occupation to the client’s new tenants. Esselco in turn reinforced their pleasure and belief in the team by awarding them the next project half way through the Lloyd’s Avenue programme. This successful partnership thus is set to continue.