Swiss studio Christ & Gantenbein has designed the interiors of a new lobby at UK House in Oxford Street, London. This mixed-use building, built in 1906, was converted to office space after the 1970s. Two of its original facades remain, with baroque forms and Edwardian style, while the others have a more modern style. Christ & Gantenbein has respected this past, while generating its vision of corporate architecture in the 21st century. The interior reveals its creative identity, combining period elements with a techno-futuristic approach, offering high-end experiences for tenants and visitors.
From the moment you enter, the studio plays with materials: the lobby features large bronze metal windows, the revolving doors are made of chrome-plated stainless steel, and the tiled marble floor is trimmed with white and black stone. At the heart is a friendly lobby cafe, adorned with a mural by Wolfgang Tillmans. The lower floor is the same. The epoxy floor with its black and white pattern leads to a bicycle room with an informal range of objects designed by Christ & Gantenbein. This UK House lobby thus meets the constant need for a communicative and accessible corporate architecture between yesterday and today.
Nathalie Dassa