Developer HQ, London W1

JRA created a bespoke office headquarters for a prestigious development company across level two of the client’s Mayfair office tower. Working with a stakeholder group, the team devised spacious, wellbeing focused interiors using natural materials, planting and high quality joinery. Developer HQ now provides a range of private offices, open plan workspace, a large boardroom, collaboration area, a kitchen and a lounge.

JRA worked closely with a client stakeholder group to expand on their original brief for an office headquarters to accommodate their 16 staff and visitors. The design team held regular interactive workshops to hone their space planning and furniture selection, presenting options as 3D visuals and mood boards.

The look and feel of the headquarters focuses on contemporary elegance, using natural materials, simple straight lines and, where pattern is featured, linear textures. The result is an office layout with furniture positioned to optimise light and a feeling of spaciousness. Natural materials, including oak joinery and herringbone parquet floors in the communal spaces, are complemented by a calming palette of greens and earth tones. Plants feature throughout the offices in large pots and at the end of each open plan bank of desks, providing a connection to nature.

The lounge area and bathrooms have a hospitality feel. The colours and materials have been selected to create a feeling of warmth and offer a high end finish, for example, brushed bronze, grained wood veneers and leather, travertine effect panels, and feature and recessed lights.

The designs provide an understated backdrop for the client’s extensive art collection, which will line the walls.

Quality was paramount for the client and JRA incorporated a number of bespoke pieces and premium furniture to meet the brief. JRA designed the reception desk as a centrepiece for the entrance space, creating a textured timber and marble desk that curves seamlessly on both sides. The team also specified bespoke joinery for the partitions using solid oak frames and double glazing to provide optimum acoustics, and oak veneer on all doors. Key furniture pieces were specified from Benchmark, including wood planters, and large tables for the boardroom and collaboration space.

JRA’s designs prioritised the health and wellbeing of occupiers, creating strong connections to nature and place. This can be seen in the extensive biophilia selected in collaboration with Plants Design for feature pots and at the end of desk banks. Nature was also referenced in the subtle sand pattern of the carpet and the exposed grain of the wooden furniture, partitions and doors. The orientation of the furniture anchors the headquarters to nature and its locale. The desks are positioned closest to the glazed perimeter and the meeting room layout optimises views of Hyde Park.

The client’s achievements are also prominent in the space, reinforcing the company culture through use of their logo, placement of company books and a largescale model. Staff are supported through a range of occupier amenities, including a collaboration zone for informal meetings and lunches, which has a sound system and can be used for company events, a secluded quiet room, a lounge area, and a well equipped kitchen. The fit out was awarded WELL Platinum.

JRA reused key structural elements of the base build to enhance sustainability. This included the existing raised access floor and the ceiling. The ceiling that was in situ was adapted by suspending the existing panels in a new frame to create a semi-exposed effect, offering greater ceiling heights and a more modern aesthetic. The design team also selected local suppliers for new items to minimise carbon emissions from transport. The board table, collaboration table and storage planters were from Benchmark, a UK based company using FSC timber, and another meeting table, featuring recycled woodchips in resin, was sourced from British makers Foresso, who produce furniture from waste products.