The brief was simple but exciting: design a space that gives Urban Splash a toolkit for the workplaces of tomorrow. The aim was to create a kit of parts that can be configured into different arrangements for each individual tenant, giving them bespoke experiences as they flex and grow. As well as exploring how furniture and design can support modern ways of working and promote sustainability. It’s not just about the aesthetics, but about how we’ll use these spaces both now and in the years to come.

In many ways, it’s about rethinking the traditional office environment and learning from new ways of flexible working. While Vanilla Factory has that beautiful, classic industrial aesthetic, the challenge was to soften it and bring it into the new era of working. It’s no longer enough to have a functional commercial shell; people want spaces that feel more inviting, more domestic and a fusion of a functional workspace and the comforts of home.

Gone are the days of endless rows of desks. In this new space, we’ve created different islands for various ways of working. There’s a soft seating area for more informal, relaxed work; collaborative meeting tables for group discussions; and yes, we still have traditional desks, but these can now be enhanced with all the modern connectivity options, and then they have been softened with thoughtful touches.

It’s all about balancing function with comfort – dimmed lighting, creative storage solutions, and natural materials that feel warm and welcoming. The idea is to create an elevated environment that moves away from the cold, corporate feel and embraces a more hospitality-inspired approach.

Sustainability is at the heart of both this and every a-nd project, as we make conscious choices in the materials and furnishings. We used Kvadrat textiles, a Danish brand who are leading the market in sustainable fabrics, from their design process through to the logistics of their delivery process, and we dressed the space with bespoke a-nd design studio sofas alongside products from Hay, Arket, and Normann Copenhagen – all of which focus more on retail and domestic products rather than traditional commercial brands. We curated a literature package for both the location of the project and also the aspirational hobbies and likes of the prospective tenants, procured at one of our past local projects, UniTom in Manchester.

Even the floral dressing package was considered as we chose to use artificial arrangements, to ensure nothing is wasted over the longevity of the project, whilst still adding texture and that splash of colour that makes the space feel vibrant.

Everything was then sprayed with a signature scent to create a pleasant atmosphere, filling the room with subtle notes of aquatic flowers, moss and patchouli to add to the relaxing vibe.

What we’ve created at Vanilla Factory is a blueprint for how a-nd believe workspaces will evolve – spaces that are adaptable, sustainable, and, most importantly, places where people genuinely want to spend time. It’s about making the workplace feel less like work and more like a place where creativity and collaboration can thrive.

This is just the beginning of the next chapter of workspace collaboration between ourselves and Urban Splash. As our ways of working continue to shift, so too will the spaces we work in. And I’m thrilled to be part of shaping that future.