Leading UK practice tp bennett acquires Dubai-based design consultancy Bluehaus

Leading UK practice tp bennett acquires Dubai-based design consultancy Bluehaus

UK architecture and design firm tp bennett has acquired Bluehaus Group, a Dubai-based architectural, design and engineering consultancy, as part of its strategy to expand its international operationsUK architecture and design firm tp bennett has acquired Bluehaus Group, a Dubai-based architectural, design and engineering consultancy, as part of its strategy to expand its international operations. The two firms have worked together on a range of projects over the past 15 years. Bluehaus, which has operated in the region for more than two decades, brings experience in sectors including hospitality, healthcare, education, retail and workplace, alongside a client list that includes EmiratesNBD, Amazon, Credit Suisse and Dubai Holding. More →

WORKS Magazine Issue 14 is here for you

WORKS Magazine Issue 14 is here for you

The new issue of WORKS magazine looks at a sector that is reaching equilibrium after five years of uncertaintyThe weather is fine and hopes are up for Clerkenwell Design Week and all the other events that flourish in the Spring sunshine. Yes, even in the UK. The new issue of WORKS magazine looks at a sector that is reaching equilibrium after five years of uncertainty. We visit exciting new projects in London, Manchester and Zurich; profile a man whose way of talking about the workplace we all echo, even those of us who have never read his work; take a look at the new generation of acoustic meeting rooms and pods; catch up with old friends to discuss the market; host a round table to ask if designers still get excited about office furniture; and there are all the features, comment and news you could ever need.

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2025 holders

The Furniture Makers’ Company announces Design Guild Mark 2025 holders

At a time when sustainability is a given, aesthetics, innovation of materials and creativity have all been key factors in the success of the 16 outstanding submissions who received the coveted Design Guild Mark 2025At a time when sustainability is a given, aesthetics, innovation of materials and creativity have all been key factors in the success of the 16 outstanding submissions who received the coveted Design Guild Mark 2025. Additionally, one entrant received the accolade of the Jonathan Hindle Prize for an exceptional entry. The presentation takes place at KI’s stunning new showroom during Clerkenwell Design Week today (20 May), with a presentation by the notable design leader,  Sebastian Conran, who has led his own product and brand development consultancy Sebastian Conran Associates for many years. More →

Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 will testify to the reinvention of the office design sector

Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 will testify to the reinvention of the office design sector

Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 is not just a showcase of products – it’s a celebration of creativity, collaboration and the power of design to shape a better world.The weather over the last few weeks has been unseasonably pleasant in the UK. Everybody involved in Clerkenwell Design Week will be hoping that continues. It’s a must-see event whatever the weather but there’s no doubt that last year’s show wasn’t helped by the downfall of rain on at least one day.  As the currently bone-dry streets of Clerkenwell prepare to welcome thousands of design enthusiasts, architects, makers and curious minds from across the globe, Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 promises to be one of the best yet. More →

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture

Organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences of workplace culture than delivering real value to the business or its customersBusiness has taken a wrong turn. Since the 2008 financial crisis, best practice has led companies to believe that the route to driving greater productivity and performance is to establish a workplace culture that prioritises purpose, meaning, and how people feel. As a result, organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements and curated internal experiences than delivering real value to the business or its customers. However, in today’s challenging economic climate, and with UK productivity at an all-time low, this navel-gazing approach is not only proving ineffective, but is also actively holding companies back. What began as a well-meaning shift towards cultivating happier employees has become a harmful distraction from genuine employee engagement and performance. More →

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

Journal of Biophilic Design to launch Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub at Clerkenwell Design Week

The Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub offers a destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and productsOur friends at The Journal of Biophilic Design have announced the launch of the ‘Biophilic Design Sourcing Hub’ at Clerkenwell Design Week 2025: an innovative new platform that connects architects, designers, and industry professionals with verified suppliers of biophilic and sustainable materials and products. The Sourcing Hub will offer a unique destination for specifiers to discover responsible materials and products, while allowing suppliers to showcase their offerings. This streamlined platform brings together verified manufacturers with engaged buyers actively seeking sustainable and biophilic design solutions. A dedicated platform for the A&D community to discover and buy approved biophilic interior solutions, from standard products and materials to bespoke pieces. More →

Most organisations now think they reduced their office space too much in the wake of the pandemic

Most organisations now think they reduced their office space too much in the wake of the pandemic

According to The Office Occupiers Report 2025 from Irwin Mitchell nearly two-thirds of the organisations surveyed now believe they may have downsized their office space too much over the past few years.Most UK businesses now believe they got their office space strategies wrong in the wake of the pandemic. According to The Office Occupiers Report 2025 from Irwin Mitchell nearly two-thirds of the organisations surveyed now believe they may have downsized their office space too much over the past few years. Consequently, 45 percent are planning to expand their office footprint within the next 12 to 18 months, compared to just 10 percent considering further reductions. More →

Office design and the office market are not what you might be led to believe

Office design and the office market are not what you might be led to believe

The future of office design is that the physical workplace will resemble nothing so much as an upscale hotel, right? Right?Over the weekend The Times published an article headlined “The ‘super-prime’ offices designed to lure WFH staff back in”. It described how firms are reshaping offices in the image of upmarket hotels, with enticing features such as gyms, childcare, cinemas, climbing walls, lounges and restaurants (run by Gordon Ramsay natch). These are luxury spaces to make the office worth the commute, as the cliché goes. Although the author concedes that this is largely a London phenomenon in the UK, the implication is that offices everywhere must ape this office design approach to some degree to meet the demands of the post-covid workforce. This is compelling stuff and not the first time you will have heard the argument. But, is it true? More →

Sustainability and wellbeing yet again key themes of South West BCO Awards

Sustainability and wellbeing yet again key themes of South West BCO Awards

Seven office developments across the South of England and South Wales have been recognised as the region’s most outstanding workplaces at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) AwardsSeven office developments across the South of England and South Wales have been recognised as the region’s most outstanding workplaces at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards. Among the winners were three Bristol-based projects, highlighting the city’s growing reputation for innovative, inclusive and sustainable office design. The awards ceremony, held at We The Curious in Bristol, celebrated excellence in office design, fit-out, and environmental performance. With a strong emphasis this year on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), wellbeing, and inclusivity, the judges praised the winning projects for their forward-thinking, occupier-focused approaches. More →

Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities

Today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic.When you think of co-working spaces – where workers from different industries come together to share a convenient workplace – you might picture a group of young freelancers hunched over laptops. But today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of the COVID pandemic. As workplaces adapt to new ways of operating, from hybrid to “digital nomadism”, co-working spaces can do more than simply offer flexibility. They can support workers’ wellbeing and work–life balance by enhancing a sense of community, building trust and new friendships, and encouraging continuous learning. More →

Pace from Profim. Where design meets human-centred innovation

Pace from Profim. Where design meets human-centred innovation

Profim proudly unveils Pace, an innovative task chair that redefines comfortable, sustainable seating for the modern workplace. Created by Germany's ITO Design, the studio behind Profim's bestselling Xenon and AccisPro lines, and engineered in Poland, Pace seamlessly blends German design precision with Polish manufacturing excellence. The chair's clean, contemporary silhouette adapts effortlessly to diverse work environments.Profim proudly unveils Pace, an innovative task chair that redefines comfortable, sustainable seating for the modern workplace. Created by Germany’s ITO Design, the studio behind Profim’s bestselling Xenon and AccisPro lines, and engineered in Poland, Pace seamlessly blends German design precision with Polish manufacturing excellence. The chair’s clean, contemporary silhouette adapts effortlessly to diverse work environments. Its Synchro SFL MAX mechanism enables smooth, natural movement, providing subtle support for different seating positions without compromising visual elegance. With multiple backrest, lumbar support, and armrest options, Pace enhances comfort while helping to reduce workplace health concerns, making it ideal for settings ranging from startups to corporate offices. More →

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

Regional BCO Awards show how London’s best offices are redefining the way we work

The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London's best offices.In a city where tradition meets the cutting edge, London’s office spaces are undergoing a quiet revolution. At the British Council for Offices (BCO) Regional Awards, held today at the London Hilton on Park Lane, seven projects were celebrated—not just for their architectural merit, but for what they reveal about the evolving needs of workers, employers, and communities alike. This year’s winners, chosen from across the capital, signal what the BCO claim is a new era of workplace thinking—where sustainability, community engagement, and human experience carry as much weight as style and status. The awards recognise excellence in the design, fit-out, operation and environmental responsibility of London’s best offices. The 2025 cohort offers more than inspiration; it sets a bold new benchmark for the offices of tomorrow. More →