By Steve Taggart
London is certainly one of the coolest places in the world to work. A start-up boom is well under way in London, with it becoming a renowned technology hub over recent years. ACI Office Design bring you 7 of the most cutting edge office spaces in the capital.
1. Forward Internet Group
At their headquarters in Camden, Forward Internet Group have built a headquarters that are the epitome of cool. Featuring excitingly decorated rooms with unusual statues and sculptures such as a giant lobster, this forward thinking and innovative company offer their staff a huge array of amenities from yoga classes to a music room and table tennis facilities.
2. Innocent Drinks
The natural theme is strong at this strikingly themed headquarters building in Kensel Rise. Fake grass flooring is a nice touch, with a play area that features table tennis and table football. There is a wonderful communal feel, with long park bench seating for whole staff meetings.
3. Second Home
Located near Spitalfields Market, the Second Home office buildings were once the site of a carpet factory. Completely renovated for the 21st century, this building has now been converted into a spectacular high-tech office space featuring beautiful open plan spaces, specially created light filters to create a welcoming environment, and even an in-house restaurant. Workers here can even improve their social life at regular music events and yoga sessions.
4. Good Technology
Encapsulating a classic old-world feel, Good Technology’s Westminster home has all the ambience of a gentleman’s club. The stylish interiors combine traditional Chesterfield sofas with modern decor to create a wonderful place for the staff to hang out, both during the working day and after hours. You can even play a game of table football or pool in this funky office space.
5. Bizzby
Bizzby, a Smartphone app company, really thought outside the box when creating their headquarters’ office space. Based on a planetary theme, this ultra-cool workspace provides employees with beautiful open plan offices that have funky painted floors, unusual shaped chairs, astro-turf and even swings suspended from the ceiling to get the creative juices flowing.
6. Mind Candy
The home of Moshi Monsters, this Shoreditch location has to be one of the top office spaces in London. Featuring unique interiors that bring work and play wonderfully together, this building makes employees feel truly at home with video games, bean bags and cool furnishings. There are even unusual tree house areas indoors.
7. IDEA London Image Credit: Idea London
A hub for growing businesses, IDEA London in Tech City offers stylish and contemporary offices that are a pleasure to work in. Futuristic glass enclosed pods are ideal for video conferencing while a beautiful “living wall” brings the outdoors indoors, with greenery and plants making a stunning feature.
It’s a really exciting time for office design and it’s great to see so many start-ups being drawn to London and the UK economy.
It’s not just that these offices are beautifully designed that makes them special, it’s that they’re built with their employees in mind. That’s something that’s really important these days, things have completely shifted from the old clock in/clock out mentality to creating a workplace that people actually enjoy coming to.
