Sony Music
9 Derry St, London W8
Sony Music's new home off High St Kensington is a 'music emporium' housing some of the music industry's most famous labels such as RCA, Columbia and Epic – plus Simon Cowell's label Syco – alongside creative, finance and administrative departments. The Grade II* listed Art Deco building, originally Derry and Toms' department store, and in the 70s the home of iconic fashion brand Biba, has been transformed into a 21st-century workplace for 450 people.
The interior reflects Sony Music's non-corporate brand values. The main reception, shown here, is defined by a suspended tent structure with multiple projected images, both moving and still, allowing Sony to showcase videos and artists. Views through the atriums ensure that you always see natural light wherever you are in the building.
MoreySmith worked with the landlord to carve out the separate ground floor entrance area to provide Sony Music with their own personal entrance to their floors, and ensure they have presence on the street. The bevelled mirror cladding and textured lacquered panels teamed with the black stone flooring provide an Art Deco feel to this lobby which the Listed Building Officers were keen to recreate. The large scale multi screen display showing music videos at high volume ensures you come right back to the present!
On arriving at Sony Music's floors the art deco feel is left behind you. A graphical montage of posters from current artists provides impact and is easily updated. Graphics and signage are bold and informal throughout the building.
One of the main constraints of the building was that each floor plate measured approximately 4645 sq m, with natural daylight only around the perimeter. We removed large sections of the slab between the third and fourth floors (approximately 10% of the total floor area) and introduced bridge links, stairs and walk ways. This connected the floors and improved circulation, housing reception rooms, meeting rooms, the café and all 15 labels and departments in one coherent space.
A defining feature of the building is the 2 striking double-height atria, the larger of which is the café. These areas are lit from above by a Barrisol ceiling which creates the illusion of natural light in the deepest areas of the building. Easily accessible to all employees, the cafe serves as a buzzy lively heart of the building and doubles as a venue for parties and live music showcases in the evenings.
The snug area at the rear of the café features wallpaper and vintage chandeliers for a domestic touch.
'The new building is way beyond our dreams and expectations.
The entire process with MoreySmith from start to finish has been
a joy. Working in this new environment I have no doubt will inspire
our staff and artists to even greater heights.'
Ged Doherty
Chairman
The main challenge in the open plan areas was working with the deep floorplates – offices were out of the question so MoreySmith worked with Sony Music to take them out of their 70% cellular environment into open plan. Multiple meeting and listening rooms form the inner ring around the central atriums leaving the best, brightest space for the open plan areas. Separate entrances and colour schemes provide identity to the different labels and departments.
Galvanised Crittall glazing to meeting rooms and entrance areas references the Art Deco exterior and allows maximum light to penetrate the heart of the building.
The concept for the open plan ceiling and lighting was led by the desire to maintain ceiling height and avoid the corporate office feel. A composition of floating rafts over the exposed soffit and services was developed offering varied lighting types and a gentle overall level of ambient light, enhanced by task lights for individual control.
Eclectic desking layouts create small 'family groups' for teams and departments, and are interspersed with breakout and meeting areas. Bespoke part height storage divisions house TVs and HI FIs and feature wallpaper and fabric pinnable panels to add a domestic touch and allow staff to personalise their areas.