With design-driven locations around England, The Office Group have opened their latest London co-working space designed by Stockholm-based Note Design Studio, the studio’s first major project in the UK. Summit House is set within a 1925 heritage building in Holborn, steps away from the British Museum. The striking façade features distinct art deco elements, with co-working office space spread across four storeys in the 4180sqm interior. With The Office Group known for prioritizing flexibility and options across their locations, Summit House offers members diverse areas including a green roof terrace, drop-in lounge workspace within an open-plan ballroom, private offices, meeting rooms and events space.

“Possibly one of the most beautiful buildings from the outside in the Holborn area, our challenge was to land on a design that would fit with that starting point and allow us to create a building that stands out from other spaces in mid-town,” says The Office Group co-CEO Charlie Green.

Leaving the original tiled façade and ornately carved timber entrance door untouched, Note based the interior concept on Swedish Grace, a pre-functionalist style of modernism that spanned the 1920s, to complement the building’s art deco heritage. An overall light and sculptural aesthetic creates an intentional focus on geometry and balanced proportions throughout. Intended to captivate members upon entering, Note opted to exaggerate reception by segmenting the elongated area with a statement, tiered structure that draws attention to a Birdseye Maple concierge desk. Custom terrazzo flooring and a funnelled entrance from the hallway cites Wes Anderson’s use of symmetrical composition and perspective.

“We felt the connection to Swedish Grace when gazing upon Summit House, so it felt natural to seek inspiration there,” says Johannes Carlström, Note Design Studio Founder. “The building has a certain elegance to it which we really wanted to preserve and enhance through our concept for the interior.”

Cream and caramel tones contrast dark red and heavy green accents that temper abundant natural light throughout the building. Varied materials including oak timber, stainless steel, stone and glass complement the rich palette, with furniture and lighting handpicked from designers including Konstantin Grcic, Philippe Malouin, Lee Broom, Andreas Engesvik and Note Design Studio themselves.

Providing calm respite in the otherwise bustling environment of a modern office, The Office Group will implement their first ‘recharge room’ at Summit House, encouraging moments of mindfulness away from the workspace for all members. The room is minimalist in design with light colours, natural sisal carpet and unimposing, moveable furniture. Light installation is a central feature, filling the room with horizontal beams proven to enhance both physical and psychological wellbeing.

[Images courtesy of Note Design Studio. Photography by Michael Sinclair & Andrew Meredith.]