tp bennett weaves sustainability and inclusivity into BP’s Canary Wharf office

Photography by Hufton + Crow

Tapping UK architecture, design and planning firm tp bennett to redesign its main base of trading operations, BP set out to create an inclusive, collaborative and more sustainable workplace in London’s iconic Canary Wharf. The unique 20,000 sq m space spans across eight floors of the Cargo building, a redeveloped 1990s office block, and includes a variety of spaces that are designed to feel both intuitive and ergonomic. The project also placed a strong emphasis on inclusivity and neurodiversity, with the aim of acknowledging and catering to different employees’ working needs.

The expansive office strives to be a sociable, agile space for staff and visitors, with a balanced choice of interactive hubs and distraction-free zones. Feature staircases act as focal points uniting all eight floors, allowing the transition from vibrant, collaborative spaces on lower levels to more focused environments above. This shift is visually reinforced through tp bennett’s use of colour and material variation, with warm, bright tones stimulating energetic teamwork and darker palettes offering a grounding effect for quite concentration.

Every desk and meeting room has been designed to accommodate physical accessibility, while every workstation has been strategically positioned to benefit from incoming daylight. In place of outdated internal partitions and their sharp and unfriendly angles are smooth, organic curves which guide visitors throughout tech-free sanctuaries, contemplation studios, a parents’ room and multifaith prayer spaces across the fifth and eighth floors.

Working closely with sustainability consultancy Hoare Lea, tp bennett crafted a Sustainability Charter with 45 clear environmental and social targets. To meet these targets, over 1200 pieces of furniture were repurposed from BP’s previous office, and – thanks to a collaboration with The Furniture Practice – all new furnishings were supplied by UK-based SMEs, stipulating either an ‘end-of-life’ take-back scheme or a high percentage (over 50%) of recycled content. The office also features a sprawling outdoor terrace overlooking the waterfront, designed to provide a serene outdoor setting with diverse planting that supports biodiversity.

“Our collaboration with BP at Canary Wharf has allowed us to challenge the boundaries of inclusive and sustainable workplace design and set the stage for the future of work environments,” says Mark Davies, principal at tp bennett. “Conceived during the pandemic, the design is informed by the need to provide every single different person the space to feel at home and enable them to be fulfilled in their work.”