M Moser Associates combines new technology with flexible solutions at this London office

Photography: Alex Kendrick

Global design firm M Moser Associates has created an adaptable new space within a larger workplace campus, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions by maximising re-use.

The brief was to upgrade the existing facilities and equipment and introduce flexible work settings to test and develop new products effectively. The ‘workshop’ creates spaces for greater collaboration and new ways to interact with products, utilising new technology such as Colour Rendering Index (CRI) lighting.

A ‘materials library’ features this CRI lighting, allowing people to see how products look in a different light. A UV-resistant, acoustic curtain wraps the space when there is the need for privacy, allowing for future adaptability of the floor plan.

The firm’s design solutions created various zones that easily adapt to suit a variety of needs, from a person up to the full department. For example, the company displays its products in the ‘portfolio area’ – when these products are under review, tables on castors, lightweight stools and moveable whiteboards allow the space to reconfigure.

The open plan is for collaboration. An eight-person high bench lets people meet away from their desks, surrounded by a muted palette and organic materials that foster creativity. To capture ideas, staff can pin any thoughts on the fabric wall. A writable, moveable wall in the meeting room opens up for team huddles of up to 15 people, easily reconfigured using a curtain to enclose the space.

“The space is set within a cross-laminated timber frame So, it was key to use natural materials that complement the setting,” comments Associate Designer Michelle Smith. “The interior design is clean and monochromatic to ensure products are the focus. Equally, the layout maximises natural daylight across the workshop area.”

An immersive experience for testing new products, the ‘audio lounge’ mirrors a domestic setting, enacting the feeling of a private home. Soft furnishings, bespoke joinery and open shelves create a homely but high-end feel, and velvet curtains add to the acoustic properties of the room.

M Moser Associates took steps to reduce the carbon emissions of the project, reusing 100% of the desks and 30% of the total furniture, as well as the tea point, tv screens, lighting and acoustic panels. Plywood and natural timbers are selected as much as possible, and only carpet tiles with excellent sustainability credentials were specified.