Company Details | |
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Company Name | Forrestfield |
Address | riverview house london road old basing United Kingdom Map It |
Name | sara bonfield |
Job Title | Interior Designer |
Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
Phone | 07771597524 |
Role of this organisation in the project being entered | Interior Designers |
Category |
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Project Name (written how it should appear) | Global Research Headquarters |
Project Address | Trajan House, Mill Street Oxford, OX2 0DJ United Kingdom Map It |
Client Name | Centre for Effective Altruism, Future of Humanity Institute, Global Priorities Institute Centre for Effective Altruism, Future of Humanity Institute, Global Priorities Institute |
Designer/Architect Name | Forrestfield Forrestfield |
Contractor Name | Overburys Overburys |
Project Description | Clients: Centre for Effective Altruism Introduction Global Headquarters for three organisations with a common goal to battle existential threats. Site - Trajan House, Oxford, Oxford University, c.2500msq The Brief Offices To create a flexible workplace environment for each organisation. Project Description Circulation throughout the building was key to promote and engineer chance encounters, remodelling was necessary to incorporate natural spots to stop, pause and share ideas. Working closely with all users, we defined the optimum level of privacy required, ranging from team to solitary efforts, and addressed all contributing elements including acoustics, finishes and lighting in order to make all of these areas successful in their desired end use. The concepts of precious time, evolution and action became evident within each organisation; these concepts together formed the design foundation. Given the collective mission, Forrestfield needed to introduce a sense of urgency, as well as to create a calm and pleasant work environment for maximum productivity. Artist Olafur Eliasson provided some inspiration with which to emphasize the passage of time along with the beauty of the natural world. Biophilic design became a vital element to create both the connection to nature and to improve air quality. Planting devices were integral to the design and provided space divisions, backdrops and central navigation elements. Given the collective mission of our clients to predict and battle existential threats, the concepts of precious time, evolution and necessary action became evident; these concepts together formed the design foundation. Forrestfield needed to introduce a sense of urgency, as well as to create a calm and pleasant work environment for maximum productivity. Artist Olafur Eliasson provided some inspiration with which to emphasize the passage of time along with the beauty of the natural world. Final Design The resulting scheme delivers a bespoke well balanced, upbeat environment. Opportunities to work according to your mood are visible and easily available. Spaces gently flow from serene to dynamic. Contemporary and welcoming, Trajan House is now a successful workplace and a memorable event destination to visitors from around the World. |
Materials Used | For these science and evidence based research clients, each surface design decision required absolute justification on their contribution to the scheme. Justification could be on the grounds of enhancing productivity, optimising collaboration, product durability, sustainability, budget, or comfort and enhancing a feeling of well being. As the number one existential threat is the acidification of the oceans, the materials in the reception area were used to evoke senses of water and light. Elsewhere in the building, natural materials including stone, cork, bamboo and copper were chosen both for their sustainable qualities and to increase the sense of well being. The cafe draws from the wild energy of a forest, the flexible seminar room provides a vast and airy cloud-like space, and the communal areas provide tactile but practical spaces to connect and feel connected; Sheet material and substrates - birch ply In the offices, wellbeing was given the highest priority; |
Sustainability | The client team recognised their role and impact with regards to providing a healthy and sustainable environment to work, rest and play. The project was approached with a view to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future occupants to meet their own needs. The brief and layout allowed for this flexibility and incorporated social equity throughout. The design and manufacture of each material, fixture and fitting was carefully considered in relation to balancing the sustainable equation. Where possible local and GSFT products were sourced and specified along with fast growing materials eg cork and birch ply, and recycled products which derive from a 360 sustainable operation. Loose furniture items were selected for their overall value and contribution; partitions and products which ‘work hard’ i.e. have more than one purpose, were selected over others; PET light fittings which also have a required acoustic performance. |
Issues Faced | Balancing sustainable qualities as a priority alongside the budget, the longevity and maintenance of each element were key in the decision making with regards material choice. As responsible designers and specifiers, with regards to sustainability, making the choice between suppliers and manufacturers has been a challenge in terms of measuring their claims which are often ambiguous. Due to the fact it was an existing building, partitions, walls and unforeseen imperfections had to be embraced and worked around. These individual challenges affected the budget as well being another contributory factor within the sustainable discussion. |
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