Second Floor, The Bindery, EC1N
At The Bindery – the new office development located in the heart of the buzzing jewellery quarter that is Hatton Garden in London – we combined fine craftsmanship with sustainable materials to showcase one floor of this exemplary office building that we’d recently refurbished as a CAT A project.
Although this CAT B fit-out brief was intended for marketing purposes we didn’t take this for granted and created a space where thoughtful design and high-end fit-out finishes combine to achieve a timeless and elegant design, inspired by 1930s art deco style. This L-shaped floor now has 48 workstations, a perfectly fitted kitchen/break-out space, and five meeting rooms in a bespoke design that really does have the wow factor.
To showcase how The Bindery could be used as premium office space by potential occupiers, our clients at Dorrington instructed us to project manage a CAT B office fit-out on the second floor of the building so that it could be used as a marketing suite before being repurposed for a future occupier.
To meet their expectations and realise their architect’s vision, we worked on this brief for 16 weeks, with some of the works testing our team’s imagination and craftsmanship skills. For example, two of the meeting rooms have curved walls and curved glass partitions that had to be built using a tape and jointing method with a trained eye for detail being essential to creating these unique partitions. This bespoke feature helped give continuity to the design that can be enjoyed throughout the building, including the furniture and many finishing details, such as the golden brass handles, frames, and feature lighting.
- Office
- CAT B Fit-out
- Size
- 3,150 sq.ft.
- Duration
- 16 weeks
Not just a show floor but a timeless office space.”
David Smith, Project Manager – Open
Remodelling in a 1930s art deco style
The uncluttered ceiling now mirrors the clean lines of the flooring and makes the second floor appear as an endless expanse of space. To achieve this effect we installed VRF units for heating and cooling on a floor-mounted system as a substitute for the traditional exposed M&E systems.
The 1930s art deco style also inspired the architect’s minimal design choice of bespoke metal castings. And while the timber flooring reflects the style of this era, it has a smart feature that allows it to be re-fitted to any new M&E layout in the future – a key component in any space that’s intended to be flexible. It is also sustainably sourced FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) labelled European oak, which adds to the many other sustainable materials we used for this building refurbishment.
The large sash windows were reconditioned with a bespoke winding mechanism to offer natural ventilation, optimising the air quality and natural light in the office. Another detail that makes the art deco-inspired design pop is the golden brass handles carved with the name of this superb office development: ‘The Bindery’.
A flawless fit-out for a premium office development
The kitchen and dining area are truly outstanding – the flawless joinery elements combined with the thoughtful design will make these spaces an inviting area for occupiers to enjoy their breaks in. Of course, they may want to simply take time to relax and admire the detailed craftsmanship!
We’ve certainly used our imagination and care to create a high-end and elegant office space, a space that works as a marketing tool but also for the people who will eventually occupy it.
