Client Brief
In 2019 Rap Interiors completed the client’s initial office refurbishment in their Maidstone offices, and were appointed once again to design and deliver their office refurbishment upon sourcing new premises when relocating to Kings Hill Kent.
Despite the offices being a fully functional space and operational ready, the client wanted to create a bright, modern, on-brand office while taking a sustainable approach to the refurbishment by re-using and re-purposing existing furniture and finishes where possible. Another key requirement was to create a large boardroom to host annual and quarterly meetings with the capability to hold twenty-five plus people.
Reception Area Solution
Upon entering the offices, the immediate large blank wall was transformed with grey and teal blue acoustic panels adjoined on a diagonal with v-shaped vertical linear cuts. A stainless steel stand-off logo situated on this wall creates a clear branded entrance for staff and visitors as they enter the offices. Additional LED lights were integrated at the top and bottom of this wall which was achieved by building the wall out with a timber frame. As a result, this once-dark entranceway was transformed creating a lighter and elevated first impression.
Adjacent to the entrance are full-height windows overlooking the landscaped environment outside. To take full advantage of this view our interior designer created a soft breakout area repurposing the client’s existing armchairs from a previous office project our team completed that were no longer used and were in storage. Taking this approach accommodated the client’s budget, as well as adopting a sustainability mindset for thisoffice refurbishment. This area is subtly divided from the main walkway and kitchen, with a tiered storage unit offering options for planting and general storage.
Teapoint Solution
The offices already housed a large tea point including two integrated fridges and furniture located on feature floor tiles. Alterations were made in the existing large tea point to bring the space in keeping with the client’s branding. These adjustments include the addition of a tiled splash back with blue and white harlequin half tiles, feature floor tiles positioned under the dining table, on-brand café style tables, dining chairs, and poseur height stools, and the installation of a boiling tap, all for staff to utilise and enjoy during their breaks.
An existing acoustic hanging panel creating a subtle divide between the kitchen area and glazed fronted meeting room opposite, was updated with addition of darker blue panels to incorporate more of the client’s corporate colours.
Main Office Area
The client took over the space with height adjustable desks occupying the main office area. The proposed office interior design scheme retained the desks and included an intelligent space plan to support the company’s departmental structure. The new layout allowed ample space for two meeting booths to be located centrally, creating a divide between departments and offering a natural acoustic barrier between two sides of the office. The meeting booths provided additional meeting spaces and bookable workplaces for staff to utilise with necessary privacy when needed.
New branded carpet tiles were installed matching those used in the client’s other recent office refurbishment projects. With sustainability in mind, half the existing desk screens were re-upholstered in a dark blue fabric to incorporate the company’s corporate colours and coordinate with the existing taupe fabric on the remaining screens, which worked well with the overall interior design scheme.
Boardroom Solution
Our interior designer provided a large boardroom by adapting two existing meeting rooms which sat alongside the main office area. One meeting room had an angled front which was squared off and opened up to adjoin the adjacent smaller meeting room. The installation of an operable wall creates a flexible meeting space allowing the client to open up the space as one, or divide the space into two rooms according to their meeting requirements. The introduction of a built in slim line bench along one wall, with integrated power ensured that ample seating was available when their larger annual or quarterly meetings are held.
The Results
This project took on a unique approach, working with a ‘ready to use’ existing space, redesigning it and retaining certain elements and adapting these to meet the client’s needs. Working with this ethos allowed the client’s budget to be carefully met whilst still achieving a smart, high-end finish. Following the full redecoration works throughout all areas left the office spaces with a light, fresh overall finish. The new layout and structure of the rooms now support the client’s operations, with the boardroom providing flexibility and choice to use the space according to their needs.
Despite many aspects remaining, the transformation was significant, creating a modern, corporate, and cohesive workspace for our client to benefit from, whilst incorporating their branding and identity throughout.
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