dMFK Architects creates nostalgic office interior in former 1960s lab

dMFK Architects creates nostalgic office interior in former 1960s medical lab

London firm dMFK Architects has transformed a mid-century medical laboratory into a flexible office space with smoked oak joinery and a restored concrete staircase.

The office is spread over 550 square metres and located on the first floor of a fully-glazed 1960s building in the city's Fitzrovia neighbourhood.

Wood-panelled meeting room with spherical pendant lights and wooden furniture in Fitzroy Street office interior — Meeting rooms are separated from the main space using smoked oak joinery

dMFK Architects was commissioned by property developers Derwent London to create an interior that was in keeping with the building's heritage while incorporating the essential features of a modern co-working space.

Accessed from the ground floor lobby via the building's original restored concrete staircase, the office features smoked oak joinery and bespoke family-style tables by British furniture brand Benchmark.

Spherical lights in wood-panelled office by dMFK Architects — Spherical pendant lights hang in the main open-plan office area

Paired with vintage lights and pieces of Swiss and Danish furniture, the overall scheme creates a homely environment that is reminiscent of the mid-century era.

The studio incorporated a wide range of spaces for different types of work including phone booths, focus booths, a choice of meeting spaces, shared flexible workbenches, a breakout area, dining spaces, showers and changing facilities.

"We aimed to design as many different workplace opportunities within one space as we could, to offer a potential tenant light and shade and a range of options," said dMFK Architects.

"Materials were kept soft and neutral to appeal to as wide a range of tenants as we could."

Open shelving and white couch in Fitzroy Street office interior — Open shelving helps to divide up the space

The architects also stressed the importance of offering different types of lighting to foster productivity.

"We wanted contrast, areas of light and shade, strong task lighting on the tables but dimmer lighting in other areas," they explained.

"We also chose not to use linear strip lighting to create a less even quality of light, which we believe is less tiring and more interesting."

Seating area and concrete staircase in Fitzroy Street office interior — dMFK Architects restored the building's original concrete staircase

According to dMFK Architects, the project is representative of a growing trend for developers to create finished interiors within office spaces, rather than renting out empty shells.

The studio has previously designed 11 buildings for The Office Group and was responsible for renovating The Gaslight, a mixed-use development set within an art deco building in central London.

Photography is by Jack Hobhouse.