SODA Studio Infuses London Office with Art Deco Flair and Modern Functionality
SODA, a London-based design firm, has revitalized the Nineteen Wells Street office space in Fitzrovia. The project, commissioned by Great Portland Estates, transformed the ground and lower-ground floors of a historic Art Deco building, originally constructed in 1929. The design seamlessly blends the building's heritage with contemporary elements, featuring a distinctive raspberry-red spiral staircase and a curated material palette to create a welcoming and timeless work environment. The transformation sought to honor the building's past while creating a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing modern workspace, incorporating residential and hospitality influences for a relaxed yet robust ambiance.
London's Nineteen Wells Street Office: A Fusion of Heritage and Contemporary Design
In a compelling project, the London-based design studio SODA has recently completed the transformation of the ground and lower-ground floors of the Nineteen Wells Street office in Fitzrovia. This initiative, undertaken for developer Great Portland Estates (GPE), breathes new life into a historic Art Deco edifice erected in 1929 by the renowned wallpaper and fabric design company Sanderson. The building, which once housed Sanderson's design studio, offices, and showroom, has retained its striking original facade. However, its interior had been completely modernized over time, leaving a blank canvas for SODA to reintroduce its Art Deco essence.
SODA's lead architect, Mel Athanasiou, emphasized the collaborative effort with GPE to embody the Art Deco spirit, characterized by bold lines, expressive forms, and dramatic gestures, while maintaining a timeless appeal. The design brief called for an inviting and enduring space that offered unexpected design elements, prompting SODA to integrate residential and hospitality aesthetics. This approach aimed to foster a relaxed atmosphere without compromising the required robustness of a modern office environment. A carefully selected palette of warm, neutral materials forms the foundation, allowing more vibrant elements, such as saturated colors and bespoke sculptural details, to evoke the building's Art Deco heritage. Athanasiou highlighted the importance of 'hand-crafted joinery and bespoke detailing' in rooting the design in London's rich tradition of craftsmanship, resulting in a workspace that is intimately connected to its historical and geographical context, blending elegance with effortless functionality.
The ground floor features expansive street-facing windows that offer glimpses into the dynamic workspace on one side and a shared lounge and reception area on the other. This communal zone is dramatically framed by a monumental, two-story bookcase that visually connects both levels. A striking raspberry-red spiral staircase descends to the lower ground floor, serving as a captivating focal point. This vibrant red hue is echoed throughout other metalwork and kitchen areas, ensuring a cohesive design narrative. The lower ground level, intentionally designed with a darker and more intimate ambiance, employs a deep green color scheme to create a snug, collaborative environment. A prominent existing column, adorned with red tiles, anchors a stylish bar counter with a substantial stone worktop. Adjacent to this kitchen area is a shared boardroom, illuminated by natural light from newly introduced light wells. SODA collaborated with Floor Story to create custom rugs for both the boardroom and the ground-floor social space. These rugs feature geometric patterns that cleverly combine Art Deco forms with the interior's overall color scheme and design motifs. SODA, founded in 2012 by Laura Sanjuan and Russell Potter, continues to impress with projects that range from converting 1970s office blocks into residential spaces with co-living amenities to designing cafes with spice-inspired color palettes.
Bridging Eras: The Enduring Appeal of Thoughtful Design
The transformation of Nineteen Wells Street serves as a testament to the power of thoughtful design in bridging historical aesthetics with contemporary needs. It underscores how architectural heritage can be respectfully preserved and reinterpreted, creating spaces that are both functional and inspiring. The project highlights the significance of contextual design, where the history and location of a building inform and enrich its modern-day purpose. Furthermore, SODA's integration of residential and hospitality elements into an office setting offers a valuable insight into the evolving nature of work environments, emphasizing comfort, collaboration, and a sense of community. This approach fosters a more engaging and human-centric workspace, moving beyond purely utilitarian considerations to create places that truly support well-being and productivity.
