LAYER, the experience design agency founded by Benjamin Hubert, has recently re-located to a new studio in East London. The interior of the 3,500 sqft warehouse in Hackney has been designed by LAYER to create a highly functional and flexible creative workspace and to showcase the studio’s work. A team of 20 creatives from diverse backgrounds – including researchers, industrial designers, UI/UX digital designers, engineers, brand and graphic designers from around the world – work in the space.
A branded space The brand language of LAYER informs the interior throughout. The entrance to the studio is a custom-made black stained oak front door with gloss acrylic LAYER signage. This leads directly to the main break-out space, where recycled PET acoustic dividers can be arranged to accommodate flexible work practices and workshops of varying sizes based on project needs. Lightweight Pair chairs by LAYER for Fritz Hansen surround circular tables to encourage collaboration and conversation within the flexible screen system. Deep-set display boxes on the wall of the main break-out space reflect the colours and imagery of the new LAYER website. These boxes are used to display new products as they launch, showcasing the studio’s work to visitors and clients. A separate kitchen and dining break-out is used for informal staff meetings and lunch. A warmer material palette of oak surfaces and soft grey walls encourages a more relaxed state of mind. The kitchen is lit by LAYER’s best-selling Spinning lights in matte grey.
Integrated inspiration The interior has been designed to inspire the LAYER team, with a constantly evolving display of work, samples and research showcased within the interior architecture. The end wall of the main studio space has been clad in converted shop fittings that display samples, materials, prototypes, tests, components from projects, and experimental research. Dividing the studio space from the break-out area is a simple, industrial racking system, storing and displaying scale models, materials, and production samples. The studio’s award-winning GO wheelchair, the world’s first 3D-printed made-to-measure wheelchair, is displayed in a Perspex box at the centre of the workspace, between two banks of workstations with Vitra task chairs.
Industrial edge Exposed tech cabling throughout the entire studio gives the interior a raw and honest expression. It also allows the studio to remain flexible by facilitating the easy expansion of desks as the team grows. This industrial expression is continued in the workshop and prototyping area, where racks display and store the studio’s prototypes. The workbench is a 50-year-old found work bench, which has been with the studio since its conception, painted white to integrate with the contemporary space.
