Company Details
Company NameForrestfield
Addressriverview house
london road
old basing
United Kingdom
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Namesara bonfield
Job TitleInterior Designer
EmailEmail hidden; Javascript is required.
Phone07771597524
Role of this organisation in the project being enteredInterior Designers
Category
  • Commercial Building - Buildings that are used for commercial purposes, and include retail, hospitality, workplaces, factories and warehouses and buildings where commercial services are provided. At least 50 percent of the buildings’ floor space will be used for commercial activities. 
Project Name (written how it should appear)Global Research Headquarters
Project AddressTrajan House,
Mill Street
Oxford, OX2 0DJ
United Kingdom
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Client NameCentre for Effective Altruism, Future of Humanity Institute, Global Priorities Institute Centre for Effective Altruism, Future of Humanity Institute, Global Priorities Institute
Designer/Architect NameForrestfield Forrestfield
Contractor NameOverburys Overburys
Project Description

Clients: Centre for Effective Altruism
Future of Humanities Institute
Global Priorities Institute

Introduction

Global Headquarters for three organisations with a common goal to battle existential threats.

Site - Trajan House, Oxford, Oxford University, c.2500msq
Background - Built for education purposes in the 1970’s
Cost - c.£1.8m
Completed Spring 2021

The Brief

Offices
Meeting, Conference rooms
Cafe
Entrance areas
Breakout spaces including relaxation and recreation areas

To create a flexible workplace environment for each organisation.
Design to reflect each company’s mission statement, provide an efficient work environment
and incorporate a strong emphasis on well being.
The headquarters is to be both impactful and welcoming in order to attract the finest minds from around the world.

Project Description
This was the first large commercial project for the design duo, Forrestfield. Fortunate to have fantastic clients and having worked hard to form a clear brief, this project was approached with care and enthusiasm.

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.
Circadian lighting was incorporated to maintain mental health. In other areas, lighting was used to create ambient and dynamic shadows with varying colours and intensity, optimising spaces to either invigorate or to relax.

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
Continual client involvement and liaison allowed for immediate response to requirements throughout the project, procurement process and build. Continuous attention was given to detail and immediate response to RFI’s from contractors and suppliers throughout.

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.
• Reflective ceiling - flowing river
• Manifestations on glass partitions - mist
• Rug by Moooi - clouds
• Solid surface reception desk - ice

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
Corten substitutes by FiredEarth
Natural rust by Innerspace Cheshire
Natural moss by Urban Planters
Copper table tops and door handles by Proper Copper - Antimicrobial
Polished plaster walls by Armourcoat - natural pigments, negligible VOC
Solid surfaces - non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, chemically non-reactive, low VOC

In the offices, wellbeing was given the highest priority;
Recycled waste chair ‘Broom’ by Phillip Stark
Cork - wall treatment - acoustic performance and functional
PET acoustics - lighting, chairs, rugs and wall treatment (DeVorm)
Airmaster carpet by Desso - 100% recyclable, reduces the concentration of fine dust in the air.

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.
Real planting was used substantially to not only promote better performance and well being but also provided screening where privacy was required.
Live planting was integral to the design at the start and used extensively and strategically throughout the scheme.
Sheet material and substrates - birch ply
Corten substitutes - tiles from FiredEarth, natural rust on a roll by Innerspace Cheshire
Natural moss
Copper table tops and door handles - Antimicrobial
Polished plaster walls by Armourcoat - natural pigments, negligible VOC
Solid surfaces - non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and chemically non-reactive, low VOC

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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