The brief from the client was to create a muted, calm and luxurious space to work in for the London HQ of their property business Schönhaus. The space had to be extremely practical and provide settings for employees to meet and work, as well as an office for two people with a space for entertaining. For example, all the filing and storage in the 1F office for two people is contained in the joinery behind the horsehair panelled doors.
The materiality for the project was partly inspired by the aesthetic of London gentlemen’s clubs, which have a rich material palette of dark woods, dull and reflective metals, aged leather and lush, natural textiles - as well as walls covered with art. Art included in the project was a work on paper by American artist Ben Shahn, Alexander May’s plaster work (83AM), Swedish modernist painting by Arne Ödberg, Sweden and an orange abstract painting by Rico White.
The ambience in these clubs is also rather dimly lit and the colour palette is generally muted with flashes of colour. The treatment we gave this palette was the minimal detailing, which gave it a freshness and contemporary edge. The Hungarian point parquet on the first floor is an example of a really traditional style that we gave a contemporary twist by enlarging the format. The overall ambience of the first floor was inspired by the very sparse arrangements of the French modernist designer Jean Michel Frank.
he client left the brief largely open in terms of the aesthetic and how we executed the practicalities of an office so I was able to lean into my penchant for sourcing more unusual pieces, allowing me to enhance the functional side of the office with some special antiques and design classics, like the Gino Sarfatti 1082 lamp, and the Jacques Adnet coat rack.
My favourite part of the project was designing the incredible bespoke furniture. It was amazing to have the chance to create some really brave pieces using interesting materials - from the horsehair cabinets to the green leather brass and the freestanding leather and brass desks.
The most challenging part of the job was to create a beautiful space within the confines of building restrictions and during the height of the pandemic which brought restrictions of its own.
Material Used:
1. Flooring: Hungarian point parquet on the first floor
2. Doors: Custom
3. Windows: Original
4. Interior lighting: Trapeze pendant & Arrow pendant from Apparatus
5. Interior furniture: Bespoke pieces designed by Hollie Bowden - horsehair cabinets, a bespoke green leather brass and a freestanding leather and brass desk, Vintage Gino Sarfatti lamp, Vintage Jacques Adnet coat rack
