066 FOCUS
Domestic & General
Wimbledon, UK
PROJECT INFO
Interior design SpaceInvader Client
Domestic & General
Flooring IVC Group Studio, Milliken, Solus Ceramics
Above The updated entrance at Domestic & General’s HQ
LURING A RELUCTANT workforce back to the office requires every skill in a designer’s arsenal, including ditching acres of drab carpet tiling for comfortable and aesthetically pleasing flooring that will create an appealing and interesting environment. SpaceInvader has recently completed a full refurbishment of Domestic & General’s HQ in Wimbledon, with a key priority of the project being to create an attractive environment that would make staff want to return the office and would aid retention and well-being. Sarah Dabbs, associate director at SpaceInvader, explains how the cheerful, practical and varied flooring designs came about: ‘The client wanted to avoid the “grey, white and black with a bit of wood” flooring palette of its previous fit-out, which was a clear – and very welcome – part of the brief. Once we knew Domestic & General was going to have such an open attitude to the redesign, we opted not to use “corporate” colours and sought instead to create a timeless and high- quality feel for the space, with a pronounced domestic sensibility. Te thinking behind this was part of the accelerated move into more human-scale space zoning that arrived with the pandemic, with clients particularly aware that a hybrid working future would mean that offices needed to work harder to attract and lure staff back into
using them. Given this, the importance of feeling good and of well-being generally were a big part of the agenda, and the interior needed to respond to that by being comfortable and inviting, as well as stimulating and aesthetically pleasing.’
Different colours, textures and flooring finishes are used throughout the project to help zone the space. ‘Breaking down large spaces by altering the floor finish allows occupants to feel located within a certain “room” or area – even when they’re actually within an open-plan environment,’ says Dabbs. ‘It’s a way of creating relatable scale for people and allows individuals to identify zones for different types of activity and behaviour, with lighting and furniture choices making this even more apparent and, hopefully, instinctive.
‘However, we are not only focused on aesthetics and emotional responses. We also need to pair visual and mood responses with considerations around practicality, suitability, durability and sustainability. Tis means taking into account performance based on acoustics, spillages, ease of cleaning and slip-resistance, as well as general wear-and-tear levels. When we are specifying, we know flooring has to meet high standards when it comes to longevity, including repair and replacement options and the provision of an end-of life disposal scenario.’
GARY BRITTON
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