Typically, an office in London is fitted out on a seven-year cycle, with all materials and fixtures demolished and replaced. Understanding the heavy environmental impact of this, we embraced a circular approach when planning the move into our new office. 80 per cent of the furniture in our new office is re-used. We retained furniture from our previous office, including seating and electronic hardware, then creatively sourced furniture from other businesses in London whose spaces we were either moving, closing, or refreshing. This included electrically adjustable desks and a beautiful timber boardroom table.
Re-use in focus in our new London office
At White Arkitekter we have a longstanding history of driving sustainability and championing decarbonising potential across our projects. When planning the move into our new London office, we aimed to integrate these principles into the design. We embraced a circular approach and were able to re-use about 80 per cent of the furniture items which resulted in a substantial 40 per cent reduction in costs compared to the allocated budget for the fit out.
The decision to adopt a circular approach to our office fit-out was prompted by a growing awareness of the significant environmental impact of the commercial building sector.
Anna Lisa McSweeney, Architect and head of sustainability in the UK, White Arkitekter
– With the built environment responsible for 40 per cent of global carbon emissions and commercial buildings contributing 15 per cent to this figure, we recognised the need for a sustainable, energy-efficient refurbishment model, continues Anna Lisa McSweeney.
When we first entered the space, it was characterized by elements like grey carpeting, overclad columns, inadequate ventilation, and a deficiency of soothing lighting on the lower ground floor. Insights from previous occupants echoed our observations, emphasizing the need for improvement. Guided by our objectives and armed with these findings, we embarked on a comprehensive renovation process, prioritizing reuse.
Our goal was to use our office move as an opportunity to set a sustainable example, embracing a circular approach which focuses on reusing materials to minimise waste, embodied carbon and to find solutions that reduce energy and produce a space that promotes wellbeing.
Shreya Aneja, sustainability specialist, White Arkitekter
Overall, the refurbishment process focused on enhancing existing conditions and working with what was there. The process has given hands-on experience of the logistical challenges of designing for reuse; namely the time intensity of procuring reuse material and accommodating uncertainty in lead times and quality; a subject that we are committed to exploring and seeking solutions. The outcome was a warm, naturally inspiring environment conducive to our team’s work. It now boasts a diverse array of flexible, adaptable spaces, incorporates biophilic principles, and natural materials have been used where possible, such as mycelium acoustic panels, and timber flooring and joinery.
When relocating its London office from Shoreditch to Farringdon in May 2023, White Arkitekter decided to commit to a circular-economy fit-out of its new home in Bastwick Street. The aim was to reuse materials as much as possible, to reduce waste and to design the new offices with a minimum embodied carbon and operational energy approach. While the process took longer than a non-circular fit-out (lasting five months including the tender process and work on site), its 80 percent furniture re-use and overall low embodied carbon use set an impressive sustainability precedent. It also saved 40 per cent on costs, compared with an all-new office overhaul, cutting the project budget from an estimated £180,000 to £100,000.
