February 7, 2024

Andreu World unveils new showroom during Stockholm Design Week

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Furniture

Furniture manufacturer, Andreu World, has opened its newest showroom in Sweden’s capital during Stockholm Design Week, on now till February 11. This new showroom boasts Andreu World’s international presence along with the company’s dedication to nature, creativity, sustainability and wellbeing, with new and established collections presented throughout. The showroom will feature collections including collaborations with renowned international designers such as Patricia Uquiola (pictued), Philippe Starck, and Benjamin Hubert. The collections include: Bolete BIO, Nuez BIO, Oru, Mariya, Forest, Alla, Calma and more.

If you happen to be in town during Stockholm Design Week and would like to book an appointment or learn more about Andreu World’s new showroom and the events taking place, please feel free to get in touch.

Last year we hosted a round table debate with Andreu World at their London showroom on the subject of workplace wellbeing.

February 6, 2024

Revised plans submitted for joint tallest building in Western Europe

by Neil Franklin • Architecture, News, Property

Eric Parry Architects have put forward revised plans for the One Undershaft tower in central London. A planning application for the project was first submitted to the City of London authority in 2016. The revised plans would make it the joint tallest building in the UK. More →

January 31, 2024

The three biggest disruptors of our time

by Jennifer Bryan • Business, Comment, Environment, JB, Technology

When we look at the context for change, we many times just look internally at what we think needs to change for whatever reason and then set about making that happen. Rarely do we think about what is going on for the people within the organisation and just how ready they and the organisation itself are for the actual change and the disruptors that underly it. Are there the right people, systems, processes, etc in place to support the change or are there a number of elements that will hinder it? Not to mention the fact there will be a number of external elements that could and will also either help or hinder the change one way or another. More →

January 30, 2024

Return to office mandates linked to higher business travel costs

by Neil Franklin • Flexible working, News, Technology

The majority of UK travel managers (89 percent) say travel is a growing business priority in 2024, anticipating increased budgets driven by return-to-office policies, inflation and ESG requirements. This is a key finding in new research by Uber for Business which claims to reveal a resurgent demand for business travel. The research, drawing insights from over 250 corporate travel managers across the UK, sets out to explore the top business travel trends and challenges to watch in 2024. In this landscape of shifting dynamics, where emphasis on ESG requirements is intensifying, there is an increasing need for innovative travel management solutions, the firm says. More →

January 25, 2024

BCO’s new research agenda sets out a new vision for the office

by Jayne Smith • Facilities management, News, Property

The British Council for Offices has unveiled its new research agenda, which will it says will aim to guide and inspire the office sector amid disruption. The BCO says the agenda is a direct response to the current and ongoing dynamics in the office sector. The publication aims to lay the groundwork for a new vision of the office as an economically productive, occupier-first, technologically enabled and sustainable part of our built environment. More →

January 23, 2024

Salford’s record breaking sustainable office building reaches completion

by Freddie Steele • Environment, News, Property

The City of Salford is now home to Eden, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, containing Europe’s largest living wall. From the site of a derelict surface car park with no benefits to the people of Salford, English Cities Fund (ECF) has created a 115,000 sq ft development that will transform this neglected urban area into a diverse mixed-use destination and form a key part of ECF’s £1bn regeneration of the Salford Central area. More →

January 22, 2024

London’s office market is reshaping the city and the way people experience the workplace

by Sam Mardon • Comment, Property

London’s office market continues to adapt to evolving workforce demands. The normalisation of hybrid and flexible working since the pandemic remains the biggest cultural shift that the office sector has witnessed in decades. In addition to the rise in demand for quality-as-a-must in 2023, collaboration, culture, and connectivity will lead the charge for office space trends in the year ahead. More →

January 18, 2024

Entries now open for the Sustainable Design Collective Annual Awards

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Environment, Furniture

The Sustainable Design Collective (SDC) – a think tank of leading design professionals working in the office workplace sector – has opened entries for its annual awards. The announcement follows confirmation of the dates for the second SD Forum to be held on 25th April at the Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Free to enter, the Awards are designed to champion ‘best practice’ and highlight innovations leading to greater sustainability within the office workplace. There are three categories: New build and retrofit projects; New products and materials; Innovation including new services or IT solutions as well as collaborations with not-for-profit organisations. More →

January 12, 2024

Landscaping is undergoing its own tech revolution

by Phil Lucas • Company news, Environment

We are living through a revolution in automation in landscaping. It is amazing to see how robots equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies are now redefining precision in landscaping design and implementation. Drones, for instance, provide an aerial perspective, enabling designers to visualise and plan landscapes with unprecedented accuracy. These tools help optimise the placement of plants, pathways, and other elements, ensuring that every inch of the landscape is utilised efficiently. More →

January 11, 2024

Workspace Design Show reveals all-encompassing speaker programme

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Events

The speaker programme at Workspace Design Show (27-28 February 2024, Business Design Centre, London) has been an integral part since the event’s inception in 2021 and this year is no exception with over 120 speakers featuring across four key elements of discourse. The Workspace Design Talks programme, which will take place in a dedicated space, the Design Talks Lounge (bottom), designed by global design and architecture firm Gensler, will feature inspiring sessions from leading industry professionals over the event’s two days. More →

January 8, 2024

Interface helps designers go minimal with new LVT collection, Northern Grain

by Mark Eltringham • Company news, Flooring

Interface has launched its latest Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), Northern Grain. This latest collection from Interface is clean and uncomplicated, designed to brighten spaces across a range of applications, including corporate office, education, and hospitality. With pale shades and clean neutrals, Northern Grain invites and enhances natural light with airy off-white, beige, and cream woods while also setting a quieter foundation with its deeper soft browns and greys, supporting the ‘relaxed minimalism’ trend seen across interior design this year. More →

January 4, 2024

European furniture giant Flokk announces acquisition of US based Stylex

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Furniture

Stylex, a design-driven American commercial furnishings manufacturer is the latest acquisition by Flokk, the European office seating and furniture manufacturer. The purchase – expected to close on January 31, 2024 – comes at a pivotal moment, solidifying Flokk’s presence in the U.S. market and making Stylex part of Flokk’s global portfolio of brands. More →