London architecture firm DH Liberty has added an installation of reclaimed bottles to this figure-of-eight shaped office in a converted Shoreditch warehouse (+ slideshow).
New firm DH Liberty inserted a mezzanine level, a new staircase and a glazed glass facade to add a distinct character to building with exposed brickwork and iron columns in the heart of London's creative district, resulting in a large industrial loft-like work space.
The brief from the occupants, digital advertising agency Analog Folk, was to harness the company's use of traditional values and digital technology to inform the look and feel of the space.
The result is an aesthetic that draws heavily on reclaimed objects dotted around the 929-square-metre property alongside a simple black and white colour palette.
Walking into the lobby, a reception and waiting area features polished concrete floors and chipboard desks mixed with vintage Chesterfield sofas plus an old suitcase used as a coffee table.
Above the reception area hang dozens of bottles suspended by wire in a spiral shape. The Finding Nemo installation, explained the architects, resembles a school of fish and is symbolic of the teamwork at the company.
"We used recycled bottles and digital applications such as scripting and 3d computer programs," said DH Liberty in a statement. "We were able to give these traditional bottles another point of view in a whole new light."
Behind a partition wall fitted with wooden boxes for plants in the waiting area is a small cafe and a conference room, which can be accessed via a pair of sliding barn doors.
In the larger portion of the building lies a seating and breakout area for staff replete with double-height ceilings, frosted windows and exposed air conditioning vents.
A series of strip lights dangles above the space, attached by a single cable drawing the eye through the building.
The architects have installed a series of three phone booths for conference calls beside a library made of scaffolding, containing the company's logo.
Behind the ground floor's open-plan desk area is a series of lounge areas separated by three transparent partitions in a tunnel-shaped space.
A further meeting room has been added containing a large desk made of old doors, with large, grey square panels and up-lighting completing the room.
Upstairs contains three separate open-plan work spaces, two of which are bracketed on either side by views over the floor below.
Here's a project description from DH Liberty:
DH Liberty and project Analog Folk
DH Liberty is a newly established architectural firm based in Westbourne Grove Notting Hill. Dara Huang, a sculpture by trade has established an architectural firm fusing together her talents in sculpting and architectural design. Dara Huang has already established a great client list featuring Samsung and her past experience includes designing Manalo Blahnik stores.
Converting a 10,000-square-foot advertising agency called Analog Folk in Shoreditch was one of DH Liberty's first projects. Design Haus Liberty took on the task of injecting sculptural modernism into a traditional London Building. The design at DH Liberty opened up the building into a large, industrial loft-like working space. Adding in a mezzanine floor to enhance the space in the building, a new staircase and adding a glazed facade to add character.
The Analog Folk advertising agency hoped to incorporate their company ethos throughout DH Liberty's designs. Analog Folk's goal was to build an advertising agency that captures traditional methods people receive information but also taps in to new digital information technologies.
Design Haus Liberty defined the goal architecturally by using reclaimed "found" objects and giving them a new life in the Analog Folk office. Bespoke items included a scaffolding library with telephone booths concealed inside and reclaimed doors digitally water jet cut.
Using recycled bottles and digital applications such as scripting and 3d computer programs, DH Liberty injected old bottles into a tremendous work of chandelier lighting.
