KINGSLEY Napley LLP is an internationally recognised law firm based in central London. As part of its ongoing commitment to challenge legal workplace traditions, Kingsley Napley recently relocated to a new, unconventional 58,000sq ft headquarters in Shoreditch.
Independent design studio KKS Savills was appointed to lead the transformation of the new warehouse-style office space. When it came to flooring, its designers turned to global flooring manufacturer Interface to provide calm, soft, textured flooring solutions that would complement the building’s aesthetics, while meeting the firm’s expectations for durability and sustainability.
Paul Butterworth, associate director, and senior designer at KKS Savills, said: ‘Because we were designing such a diverse environment, we needed a flooring supplier that could offer something to suit a variety of areas, not only in terms of texture and colour, but also from a practicality and sustainability aspect.’
Different flooring solutions were specified to create zones for collaboration and quiet working. Says Interface: ‘Neutral tones from Interface’s Human Nature carpet collection were chosen to provide a homely feel for employees and add warmth to the space. Level Set and Studio Set LVT flooring were used in all of the collaboration areas to provide resilience against heavy footfall, as the Ceramor ceramic bead coating is resistant to scratching and scuffing with a fibreglass layer that provides stability and flexibility. Additionally, these LVT products meet leading European and global standards for indoor air quality, helping support the wellbeing of Kingsley Napley’s staff.’
In this open-plan, high traffic office, acoustics were a key consideration to ensure employees could focus on tasks and meetings. The Level Set and Studio Set LVT collections come with SoundChoice backing as standard which significantly reduces impact sound in a space.
A splash of colour
In contrast to the neutral surroundings of the rest of the office, the restaurant is a bright, vibrant space that’s been designed to offer an escape from work. Inspired by Kingsley Napley’s brand, designers tasked Interface with creating a bespoke rubber flooring design using tight cut lines and circles.
Interface employed its nora rubber flooring to deliver on the brief, with the inlay being cut to precision in the company’s factory, before being slotted together like a jigsaw by the contractors.
Continues the company: ‘noraplan sentica was selected as the high-quality natural and industrial rubber makes the flooring extremely hardwearing, slip resistant and easy to clean, supporting the hygiene considerations for the space, as well absorbing sound, crucial for such open plan spaces. The designers opted for a selection of bold grey, pink, blue, green, yellow, and orange shades, and incorporated a striped pattern to add interest.’
Suzanne Campbell, senior account manager at Interface, commented: ‘This is a really unique and exciting space which demonstrates the power of our full product offering. By combining carpet tile, nora rubber flooring and luxury vinyl tile, we’ve been able to carefully cater to the different areas within the office, from a vibrant kitchen area to a variety of working zones. We’re really proud of the overall result and so glad we’ve been able to help create a dynamic and versatile office for the team at Kingsley Napley.’
Paul added: ‘We worked closely with the Interface team to specify various products and the client is delighted with the finished results. The flooring, along with the natural wood furniture choices, exposed concrete ceilings and columns, and soft colour palette create an understated and calm interior that is welcoming to both staff and visitors, and perfectly suited to the firm’s modern way of working.’
Grounded in sustainability
Kingsley Napley says it’s committed to reducing its carbon footprint and continually improving environmental performance. Darren Jesse, chief finance, and operations officer at Kingsley Napley LLP, said: ‘Sustainability is an integral part of our strategy and operating methods, and we encourage suppliers and other stakeholders to take a similar approach. The green credentials of the products used were a key consideration for the design of our new office and when we heard that all of Interface’s flooring is carbon neutral throughout its full product lifecycle, we knew they’d fit the bill.
‘The products selected contribute towards the building’s sustainability credentials that meet BREEAM Excellent standards, which is a fantastic achievement for us. We’re thrilled with the new office that Interface and KKS Savills have helped us create – and the fact that it has a positive impact on the planet is a very welcome bonus.’
www.interface.com
