Argent’s King’s Cross HQ shifts to a Dynamic Working model, in a sensitive yet contemporary refurbishment.
Sustainability and wellbeing sat at the heart of this project. Basha-Franklin have created a successful, sustainable workplace that promotes true wellbeing. Across the three floors there is diversification and democratisation of space. A balance of open visibility and retreat space to empower user choice, preference, activity and mood attracting the team back to the office to meet colleagues in an authentic, high performing environment.
The design team incorporated biophilic design strategies, opening views to natural light & views to King’s Cross. Inspired by the historical context the texture, colour and connection to nature creates high quality experiences and optimises wellbeing. Argent’s bold & passionate culture is visible and energised by the re-imagined space, immersing employee and visitor alike in the unique brand experience, enhancing the sense of belonging & social capital.
The project has focussed on sustainable, environmentally responsible and user-friendly materials and methods throughout. A holistic approach to the environmental impact of the refurbishment includes wellbeing, air quality, lighting upgrade, environmental impact of new products and sustainability of their production, reducing the amount of waste and improving the running performance of the space.
The design has had a future endurance target throughout the design process. The reorganisation of the internal space and enhancing the user experience incorporating flexibility, choice and adaptability to provide future resilience and agility for the business. Smart sensors are providing a new level of intelligence, controllability and understanding of how the space is performing. This is supporting Argent to evolve to an optimised environment for the health of their people. By upgrading the mechanical and lighting system, energy efficiency can be maximised, adapted and updated in the future with minimum disruption.
All new materials were sourced using a recycle, re-use, re-purposed ethos. High performing materials that inherently perform through the natural content, fabrication and application. This will benefit acoustics, moisture regulation, heat accumulating, fire resistance, durability and achieve low to no VOC’s. The substrate materials also achieve low to no VOC’s further enhancing air quality within the space. All sealants, fire rating coatings are water based. Minimal adhesives were specified, where essential for durability, these had to meet non-toxic specifications, all substrate materials were also interrogated to meet stringent non-toxic requirements.
The buildability of the design solutions has factored end of use strategies, flexibility of use and future adaptability. Joinery and wall cladding has all been mechanically fixed. All repurposed and new flooring has magnetic fixings so that the elements can be relocated if required and materials can be re-used more easily at end of use.
Commercial Interior design has many varied facets to the design, successful delivery and ongoing longevity of a project. The consistent creative problem solving, and innovative mindset of this team allowed them to be agile in facing the challenges, some of which are listed below, and successfully deliver an exemplar project.
• uncertainty in the supply chain,
• cost and availability of general construction materials,
• interface of new technologies within an existing platform,
• innovative use of unexpected materials,
• integration of 80% existing materials and 70% reuse furniture,
• programme,
• sustainability governance
The team shifted to a 85% UK supply market, a 30% increase once on site and the challenges of the European market was realised. There was also an increase in bespoke items due to this, these were fabricated within 30miles of London. This was wholeheartedly supported by a forward-thinking client that trusted the design team to solve the problem using their valued relationships in the industry and manage the costs effectively.
The project was a refurbishment of a much-loved space that was no longer fit for the business. Re-imagining this space to ‘wow’ the people that knew every nook and cranny, within clear timeline and programme parameters needed clever creativity and originality of approach. The impact has propelled the building and the space into the next generation.
Working with specialists and craftspeople to create unique surfaces, adapting new and existing products to increase performance and prolong life of use achieved a customised solution. By applying governance of specification throughout all stages especially during construction, achieved a truly bespoke sustainability that has a deep connection to Argent values. Argent’s building is original, and the refurbishment has a huge impact to everyone who engages with the space.
Argent and Related Argent
Since 1981, the Argent team has delivered some of the best mixed-use developments in the UK: major commercial, residential, education, cultural and community developments in the country’s largest cities.
It is involved in the full development process – from identifying and assembling sites, developing designs and obtaining planning permission through to financing, project management of the construction process, letting, asset management and (sometimes) selling. It also manages and maintains buildings and estate. Argent has a team of 180 people.
Argent is the development and asset manager for The King’s Cross Estate which is owned by the King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership (KCCLP) and made up of pension fund AustralianSuper, clients of the international business of Federated Hermes and Argent investors.
In 2015, Argent, the respected developer with a track record in creating exemplar new pieces of UK cities including King’s Cross, joined forces with Related, the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States with over $60 billion in assets owned or under development including Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side, as well as The Grand and Related Santa Clara in California.
Argent Related has a £8bn development pipeline in London which includes the delivery of two major regeneration schemes featuring over 7,900 homes, over 3 million sq ft of office space, 50 acres of parks and playfields, as well as retail, leisure, student accommodation and schools, both highly accessible from new and improved public transport connections. It is currently working in a joint venture with Barnet Council on London’s 180-acre Brent Cross Town, with the London.
The lockdown in March 2020 was a catalyst for the business to completely rethink the way it used its space to meet changing working patterns and a growing headcount, which includes many new team members working on the Related Argent projects at Brent Cross Town, Tottenham Hale and a new build-to-rent development in King’s Cross.
Following extensive collaboration and consultation with both staff and industry experts, the newly adopted Dynamic Working model gives greater choice to employees regarding where and when to work and the ability to better balance the needs of the business with the personal needs of the individual. This element of individual choice and control is central to a renewed focus on wellbeing that the new facilities support. The result of the 18-month process is a radical redistribution of the existing 14,000 sq ft space, including a 30% reduction in traditional desks but an overall increase in the total number of places to work. The changes also provide additional collaborative spaces and areas for support and wellbeing.
Argent also wanted to create a space that was welcoming to those from outside the organisation, whether that was for meetings with the team or by providing somewhere for visitors to work from. To achieve this, the first floor was re-configured to allow the open-plan reception area to merge with a vibrant display area and touchdown space for guests, complete with a hi-tech coffee bar.
“Now that we’ve been in for a few weeks, the feedback we’re getting is incredibly positive. What was becoming a slightly cramped, and at times siloed environment, has become a space for collaboration and innovation, where teams share knowledge and ideas and can get to know each other again after so long apart.
Team:
Architect + Interior Designer: Basha-Franklin
Photographer: Ed Reeve
Materials Used:
Vitra
Norman Copenhagen
Fogia
Icons of Denmark
&Tradition
Hay
Menu
Muuto
Plus Halle
Senator
Copper
Forbo Desk linoleum
Buxkin - recycled leather, wool felt acoustic panels
Dulux air purifying paint - Airsure
White&White- Terrazzo with Recycled Content
James Latham - Valchromat – walls
Viroc by Investwood – Red walls
Kvadrat – Fabric and Curtains
De Ploeg - Curtains
Rohi – Fabric
Banker Wire Mesh
Clayworks – Plaster Render in entrance
Grestec Tiles
Deltalight
Fagerhult
Gubi
Ago – from Relay Design Agency
Orsjo Belysning
Miniforms
Wastberg
Examples of the sustainable materials/products in the design:
• Buxkin - Recycled Leather made from reconstituted offcuts from the Italian shoe industry. Recycled felt 60% recycled content.
• Baux – Woodwool ceilings & Paper pulp, wall panels acoustic performance
• Cempanel: Low-carbon, non-toxic; waterproof, Heat insulation properties save energy, Resistant to insect and fungal attack, Excellent impact, fire and acoustic properties, Class O material, Cempanel doesn't absorb water and is structurally stronger than timber while combining the strength of cement with the flexibility of the timber, due to its high timber content.
• Non-VOC* paints – Improving indoor air quality and reducing the building industry’s impact on the environment.
• Desso / Tarkett Carpet tiles – The new carpet tile being laid to replace old carpet tiles and within all meeting rooms and enclosed spaces has a Desso Ecobase® backing and a 100% recycled yarn.
• Copper – Natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties with a very long lifespan and recyclable. 80% of the global copper is in constant recycle.
• Valchromat – PEFC & FSC* Certified. Inherently fire retardant panels made of wood fibres coloured in the production process. The fibres are impregnated with organic colouring agents. This is a tactile and natural material, which is very durable and perfect for bespoke joinery pieces.
• Terrazzo; created using recycled materials, including but not limited to stone, marble, granite, glass and metal, which due to its natural composition, has low VOC* levels.
• Kvadrat – The majority of specified upholstery & curtains are from Kvadrat, a brand dedicated to minimising their environmental impact.
• Substrates - Low to no VOCs; all substrates are ECO-board (made from recycled plastic waste to reduce the environmental footprint of projects) or non-formaldehyde timber.
• Forbo desktop lino - Made from 97% natural raw materials and a high % of recycled content. The soft and durable finish has bacteriostatic properties and can be completely recycled. The surface can be repaired. The soft touch of the material aids acoustic reverberation compared with other hard surfaces.
