Align brings tropical aesthetics and Feng Shui principles to central London

Photography by Gareth Gardner

Transforming an 11,000 sq ft space in the heart of London, Align took its principal design cues from the client’s Bermuda HQ to create a tropical-inspired workspace. Alongside this vibrant, biophilic aesthetic, the studio also drew from the 3,000-year-old practice of Feng Shui, which informed the site plan from beginning to end.

“While the South in Feng Shui philosophy represents the capacity for vision and creativity and the South-East wealth and prosperity, the North governs career and business,” explains Nigel Tresise, Director of Align. “The East governs health, growth and family and was therefore a natural choice for the reception and welcome area, while the Western aspect is traditionally less linked to business and therefore needed to be well-connected to the rest of the space.”

After placing each workstation and amenity according to the Feng Shui compass, the studio also made sure to soften the overall geometry of the interiors with as many curved elements as possible. As well as these soft, organic shapes, a multitude of bespoke features recall the colours and textures of Bermuda’s natural environment, ranging from the palette of sandy beiges, sea blues and forest greens to scallop-edged joinery and ripple-effect surface treatments. Striking stalactite-inspired lighting – custom-made by Atrium – hangs from the corridor ceilings as a nod to Bermuda’s iconic Crystal Caves, turning the everyday walkways into a design feature of their own.

However, the most dramatic of the tropical fixtures is undoubtedly the floor-to-ceiling semi-circular terrarium in the reception. Featuring plants native to Bermuda, this technically challenging installation was created by Grow Tropicals and office planting consultants Exubia, and houses plants that are either real or naturally preserved. As well as offering visual impact and aiding the exotic theme, the terrarium also conceals a seating area for semi-private meetings, furnished with a semi-circular banquette and lit by a Chinese-lantern style pendant. A second concealed area sits directly behind the bronze mirrored reception desk, complete with metallic blue wall tiling and a recycled Stoneville worktop, which acts as a welcoming tea point for visitors.

Meeting suites line the full length of the corridors and are affectionately named after locations in Bermuda, including Whale Bay and Astwood Cove. Here, staff have a dedicated space for collaboration or client-facing meetings, with each room boasting acoustic panels, rippled glass panes for privacy and ceiling-mounted microphones and speakers. Catering to a full range of working styles, employees can also find open-plan offices, a breakout zone and a zen studio space at the opposite end of the building, the latter of which offers spectacular city views through a full-height glazed wall. This studio can be used as a gym or yoga space, and three sleek bathrooms with storage and vanity areas also allow employees to freshen up after cycling or running to work.