DATA SHEET
Main Contractor: Collins Construction
Architects: dMFKArchitects
Interior architecture: Norm Architects
Art curation & styling: in collaboration with Emma Lynn Archer
FF&E: in collaboration with The Office Group
Partitions: Pace Interiors LTD, Radii
Surfaces: E. Nielsen, Kronos Ceramiche, New Terracotta
Wall plaster: St. Leo Interiors
Curtains: Kvadrat
Joinery: TMJ interiors
Furniture: Audo, Brdr. Krüger, Cassina, &Tradition, Hay, Karakter, Labofa,
Decorative Lighting: Bocci, Faust Lighting, Pinch London, RBW, Santa & Cole, Tekio, Vitra Akari
Custom made lamps: Norm Architects design manufactured by Decode
Photography: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen & Jake Curtis
In the lively debate on the future design of office spaces, Norm Architects presents its vision through The Chancery House, a new work environment conceived for The Office Group (a workspace developer and operator with serviced offices across London, the UK, and Germany).
The Copenhagen-based studio has transformed a nine-story building in the heart of London’s Midtown into a genuine “manifesto” of contemporary workspaces, with the clear objective of creating a flexible space centered on well-being and shared environments, as well as the available services — ranging from an organic restaurant to high-level end-of-trip facilities, a gym, a yoga studio, and numerous meeting rooms designed with the same care and attention as the work areas.
«In our pursuit, we delved into the profound impact our surroundings exert on our senses, mood, and overall ease, recognizing that a modern work environment should be a sanctuary attuned to the intricacies of human sensibility – a workplace that complements what your home office might lack,» the designers explain.
«It’s about using the design to give people multiple opportunities to bring well-being into the daily fabric of work life, and to form part of their everyday.» Norm Architects achieved this by developing the central theme of balance, primarily between inside and outside, but also among materials, colors, and atmospheres to create harmonious and welcoming spaces without resorting to flashy design.
The neighborhood context, with its rich historical and architectural heritage, was the project’s starting point. Located above the labyrinthine underground complex of the London Silver Vaults (dating back to the 19th century), The Chancery House takes its place in a period building refurbished, extended, and reconfigured by dMFKArchitects in collaboration with Norm Architects for the interior architecture.
The building stands as a timeless testament to London’s enduring charm, skillfully merging tradition with contemporary design, integrating a color and material palette inspired by the surrounding urban fabric. Facade features, such as red bricks, sandstone, and cement, were maintained out of respect for the architectural legacy: an aesthetic visible from the ground floor, in the reception and welcoming area, to the café.
The naturally lit spaces are made even more comfortable by the abundant use of wood, soft draperies, and plush cushions that shape areas hosting both work sessions and informal meetings. The integration of brushed and polished stainless steel is instead a tribute to the allure of the London Silver Vaults: such as the dramatic steel staircase leading to the lower floor, where brick tones give way to lighter and gold colors framing the central table for co-working, corners for quiet conversation or concentration, to more collaborative areas like the gym and yoga studio (all designed with the integration of natural light and fresh air, and a view of the greenery), because «a focus on wellness at work extends far beyond ergonomic chairs and standing desks. It encompasses the physical, mental, and emotional health of employees as well».
Spread across most of the floors, there are meeting rooms of varying character and size, as well as outdoor terraces on different levels. The idea of comfort, well-being, tranquility is translated into a neutral palette and natural materials, emphasizing the idea of warmth, tactility, and quality. Through a wise use of natural light and shadows, sounds, air, spatial flows, voids, and volumes, the interior replicates the urban context on a smaller scale, transforming The Chancery House into a gathering hub rooted in the city.
