Office Design and Fit-Out for Espresso Education
February 2010
Maris Interiors LLP has recently commenced works at Hythe House, Hammersmith, for British Academy Children’s Award winner Espresso Education.
Espresso is the UK's leading educational digital content company. Formed in 1997, they were the first company to introduce full-screen video and media-rich content into a browser-based network solution in classrooms. And, today, they are making an impact on teaching and learning in schools all across the country.
Previously occupying an area within the Riverside Studios building in Hammersmith, Espresso felt their current office space was holding them back in terms of both headcount and workplace operational requirements.
Maris captured the essence of the Espresso brand and subtly applied it to the office interior. With no dedicated reception area, the challenge was how to give the space identity - it had to feel uniquely Espresso. Maris used the strong corporate graphics on the meeting room glazing to show branding and key words to describe their image.
Maris also had to consider what impact there would be to staff from the move. What would be the benefits and losses? It soon became clear that the access to a staff café was key to the success of the project. It had to be open and functional and also appeal to staff. The solution was bright and light. A softer, more relaxed feel was also created with funky furniture and coloured lighting.
Maris' Workplace Design Director commented, “The key to our successful office design, fit-out and relocation of Espresso Education was our complete understanding of their business needs. Our workplace appraisal of their culture, furniture requirements and technical areas provided the platform from which we designed.“
