Panagram

A 1980s office building has been brought back to life by Buckley Gray Yeoman with playful interventions that bring colour and joy to the interior spaces and a new vibrant reception space at its heart. A retro pop aesthetic has replaced the corporate look and feel of the building as physical and metaphorical barriers are broken down to bring about a more convivial and lively set of workspaces in Clerkenwell. Already clad in pink granite, we decided to keep some of the original features of the existing building and use them to inspire a new identity for Panagram. A similar hue of terrazzo is used to wrap around a new entrance to the building, which creates an entirely glazed ground-floor level and reveals the activity within. This extra-wide portal provides a unified appearance along the street and a much more inviting experience. Once inside, an unusual free-flowing 1,560 sqft reception is noticeable by its lack of traditional desk and a series of unique seating elements, including a white-tiled plinth with koi carp swimming through its centre, and a sculptural leather bench wrapping a Ficus tree. Visitors are greeted by a host who will emerge from behind a one-way-view curtain, promoting a relaxed and informal atmosphere. A single yellow steel girder is positioned in the middle of the room to reveal the structure of the building and transform it into a striking decorative element. Visible through the glazed wall in reception, a dramatic grand timber staircase leads from the ground floor office space down to the garden level floor. The stair incorporates a larger Ficus tree growing from its centre and a series of extra-large steps that can be used either as a place to sit and relax or as an auditorium. The aim was to create a series of multi-use spaces that the occupants could adapt to their needs. Colourful lifts continue the sense of playfulness as they transport people up through the building, while loos are given their own bright identities; huge sliding doors that turn the WCs into a feature on each level. Colour Is prevalent throughout with the fresh air ductwork painted Parisian pink and Duck Egg Blue on alternate office floors. The entire remodelled 52,000 sqft building is flooded with natural light thanks to generous floor-to-ceiling heights that range from 3.3m to 3.8m. The planted terraces offer views out to the City of London and beyond, reminding the occupants that they are situated in the heart of the thriving capital. On the second floor, we created a fully fitted-out office that further demonstrates how colour and materials can be used to suggest zones of activity, such as a green kitchen sitting within the open-plan setting and a breakout meeting room that is delicately enclosed by a yellow translucent curtain. Small meeting rooms are lined with felt to improve acoustics and create an intimate atmosphere inside.