Oktra designed the Elsley House Spec Suites with a minimalist yet creative feel in London, England.

Elsley House is an elegant Art Deco building constructed in the 1930s for the garment industry. Significantly refurbished by GPE, it now provides 66,900 sq ft of bright, contemporary office accommodation. Having delivered ten Cat A+ projects for GPE in London, Oktra were familiar with their portfolio and commercial objectives. As the first floor of the building had recently become vacant and in need of an update, GPE decided to refurbish the office space and speed up the occupation process through our Built to Lease service for landlords. Equipped with a new, flexible space plan and visuals of a stylish workspace, GPE were able to let the space to Northzone before the build was completed.

Oktra interrogated the history and architecture of the site to form a considered design that maximises daylight and is sympathetic to the existing fabric of the building. Elements such as cork flooring, hot-rolled steel partitioning and exposed brick elevations reflect the minimalist, urban aesthetic that the landlord has carried through the entire building, while feature lighting, tactile materials and prints help this space to establish its own unique design identity.

The design features sleek, linear elements characteristic of the Art Deco period and uses materiality to visually separate the collaboration and social spaces from the desk area, while retaining the light, open feel throughout the entire space. Occupants can complete focused work at the open plan desks which have been positioned to receive the most natural light from the restored Crittall windows. Elegant curtains span the full height and width of the space and can be used as a further measure to provide privacy for desk-based employees.

The opposite side of the office is host to communal areas and internal and external meeting facilities. A brainstorming zone, collaboration table, teapoint, and welcome lounge share a rich colour palette and natural materials that add warmth and a homely touch to the workspace. Private meetings are facilitated by an enclosed meeting room which uses Critall glazed partitions to mimic the building’s fenestration and respect the open design, as well as portable, acoustically-protected call pods. The arrangement of social, focus and collaborative space can support a hybrid working model by prioritising connectivity, promoting workplace wellness, and meeting the functional requirements of office-based workers.

With occupiers’ and investors’ demand for sustainable building on the rise, GPE have added multiple sustainable developments to their portfolio. Throughout their working partnership, Oktra have developed an in-depth understanding of GPE’s sustainability goals, enabling Oktra to produce environmentally-conscious solutions tailored to their objectives and budget. This project prioritised sustainable procurement and construction wherever possible in order to achieve a SKA Silver Rating; enabling GPE to measure their sustainability efforts in a quantifiable way and demonstrate their commitment to responsible business to their stakeholders.

Design: Oktra
Photography: Oliver Pohlmann

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