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The Ark is a striking West London building designed by renowned architect Ralph Erskine. Its iconic curved form and central atrium create a bold silhouette, a contemporary vessel of space and light. Following its refurbishment, a private landlord wanted to activate the building and accelerate leasing by offering flexible workspace units that could appeal to a diverse range of tenants. Following a competitive tender and building on our trusted relationship through previous projects (at 15 Bedford Street, 22 Chancery Lane, and 65 Chandos Place) we were appointed to deliver six fully fitted ready-to-work units across the third and fourth floors, totalling 22,000 sq ft.
The Ark’s distinctive shape posed specific construction challenges. With a unique floorplate and outward-leaning mullions, the space required highly detailed planning, coordination, and execution. We delivered six standalone units, ranging from 1,800 to 7,000 sq ft, including independent services, DDA-compliant layouts, and shared escape strategies.
Delivering this level of detail across multiple self-contained spaces within a single floorplate required close collaboration with the client and careful cost control with their professional team. Bespoke curved partitions, and clean finishes, maintained design consistency while allowing flexibility for future tenants to scale up by connecting units. The layout also preserved one of the stunning key design features of the building; the flow of natural light from both the exterior glazing and central core, a defining benefit for any incoming occupier.
Working in conjunction with the Landlord and their disposal agents, the design brief was centred around broad appeal, balanced with personality. We adopted a hospitality-inspired look and feel, layering neutral base tones with bold accent colours, including dark blues and greens, to bring warmth and energy to the spaces. Biophilic elements were used generously to soften the interiors and align with modern wellness expectations.
Furniture was selected with care to suit multiple working styles, from hot-desking and touchdown spaces to focused settings like phone booths and meeting rooms. Every element was designed with inclusivity in mind ensuring neurodiverse needs and accessibility standards were met within the scheme. The result is a collection of welcoming, high-quality workspaces that are ready for immediate occupation and able to flex with tenant needs.
This project plays a direct role in supporting the clients commercial leasing goals. By creating spaces with broad market appeal, we’ve helped remove common friction points in the leasing process, making it easier and faster for prospective tenants to envision themselves in the building. Our approach has already delivered results. Since completion, there has been strong interest in the spaces, and we continue to support our client with the next phase of tenant enquiries. The Ark is now a thriving vessel ready to welcome the next wave of occupiers.
Your workplace holds enormous potential to improve your business performance. Get in touch today, and we will unlock that potential together.