Exemplar Properties
33 St Christopher's Place London W1 and
Kent House, 14-17 Market Place, London W1
MoreySmith designed these offices for an ambitious, expanding property development company to project an image of professionalism underlined with individuality and informality. Exemplar's St Christopher's Place HQ confidently combines rectilinear workspaces with a domestic theme, reflecting the personalities of the two principals and making a virtue of the timber floors and original windows, while the new nearby building they have moved into emphasises natural light and materials. Here, the executive open plan space in St Christopher's Place uses domestic lighting, a classic Persian rug and a floor-to-ceiling bookcase with library ladder and plasma screen. This combined with the reclaimed timber floor and comfortable furnishings conveys a relaxed but businesslike air.
Exemplar's new premises in Kent House, where we made Modernist forms, clean lines and the maximisation of daylight the rule. Natural materials appear and reappear; timber doors and floors provide counterpoint to the stone reception desk, into which the company name is engraved - a move that accentuates the company's solidity and reputability.
The counterbalanced full-height timber sliding door opens onto the meeting room in St Christopher's Place.
'We are delighted with the new office. The design provides an
efficient and enjoyable working environment and projects both a
passionate and professional image to our guests.'
Clive Bush
Exemplar
The St Christopher's Place meeting room. Details such as the leather lined handgrip in the sliding door add touches of delight. This room generates greater formality, but still surprises with its leather-clad rear wall contrasting with the exposed brick.
The main work space in Kent House, more like an everyday office, but enlivened by touches such as the floor standard lamps. The much valued airiness throughout the space is achieved by matching the abundance of natural daylight with clever lighting solutions.
The open plan work and meeting space in St Christopher's Place. 'People thrive in a more personal, domestic atmosphere,' says Linda MoreySmith - a principle that Exemplar has certainly found to be true.