A Look Inside RE Capital’s New London Office

Private investment firm RE Capital recently hired workplace design firm Oktra to design their new office in London, England.

“The Corner Building was beginning to look dated and needed a refresh to appeal to incoming tenants. The landlord wanted the property to reflect the local neighbourhood and its tenants in order to create a destination office for prospective businesses looking to move into the Farringdon area. We went through a six-week design process with the client and their consultants, researching the surrounding buildings and the businesses that occupy them to understand the local market. The space was designed with smaller businesses and start-ups in mind, catering to a maximum headcount of 40 people on each floor and focusing on flexible, informal workspaces.

To create a flexible working environment for prospective tenants, we opened up the floorplate to allow for a variety of workstations. With only 20% of the floorplate made up of built solutions and the remaining floorplate as open plan space, we concentrated on using furniture solutions to allow for maximum flexibility with reconfigurable furniture that can be repurposed for different uses. All furniture was supplied by Techo, a tenant of The Corner Building, helping to create a community feel within the property.

The design concept of The Corner Building references RE Capital’s other properties, helping to create a consistent visual identity for their office spaces. We opted for a neutral, minimalist design with warm furniture finishes and planting that would help RE Capital to meet current market demands for considered, contemporary office space. Each floor is a blank slate for incoming tenants who can personalise the space to their company’s brand.

We ensured that sustainability and wellbeing were a priority when designing the space, opting for sustainable finishes and biophilia throughout with greenery, timber finishes and plenty of natural light. Previously underutilised, the roof terrace has been transformed into a stunning tenant amenity complete with lounge seating, planting, pergolas, and a bar that allow tenants to enjoy views of the local area and sit outside all year round.

The Corner Building has been designed to cater to tenant needs for flexible working space, informal meeting spaces and lounge zones including an outdoor terrace, all situated within an understated, modern property offering plenty of amenities in the local area.”