Area Sq - Offices Development - London NW6, Queens Park
Date: 28 Oct 2003
Area Sq, the office interiors specialist, has completed a new £1,000,000 office and showroom facility in London for its client, Oriental Weavers. Oriental Weavers is a multi-national rug manufacturer with production facilities in Egypt, U.S.A and a new unit under construction in China. Its decision to expand business in North Western Europe creates the need for an improved UK base, and it now operates from a 100-year-old building in Queens Park, London, NW6 which was previously used as offices and for storing munitions. Cambridge Weavers, the new Axminster wall-to-wall carpet division of the Group has its world head office in the same building.
“Fifteen thousand sq. ft. of disused space in poor condition has been turned into richly-coloured working space and showroom facilities for Oriental Weavers,” comments Clive Lucking, Managing Director of Area Sq. “The finished project looks fantastic.”
Area Sq was initially invited to tender with 3 other contractors. The Staines-based commercial interiors specialist was successful in its bid because of the innovative design that kept sight of the overall budget.
Lucking explains, “We’ve highlighted the character of the building and painted many walls a deep shade of red to complement the luxurious feel of Oriental Weaver’s products”.
The offices feature the original iron lifting hoists where practical and the main open plan areas on the first floor have a pitched roof with exposed beams.
There were some fundamental problems which Area Sq has solved. A lighter, airier feel has been created since the building had been a rabbit warren of dark, little rooms. It also has a new lift serving the 3 floors and a new architectural staircase to bring it in line with current building and DDA regulations. Creating the lift involved substantial piling in the basement and the formation of a structural shaft through the building.
Oriental Weaver’s new ground floor has a showroom with specialist display facilities together with a reception, boardroom, kitchen and WC facilities. The first and second floors are used as office space with a mixture of cellular and open plan spaces.
Cary Zitcer, UK Managing Director of Oriental Weavers, summarises, “The Area Sq team has been able to transform a run-down late Victorian building into a superb sales and marketing facility for our Northern European operation. Their work fully enhances the original features of the building as well as our own aesthetic and functional needs. It’s a fantastic place to work and to welcome customers”.
Queens Park, London, NW6
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