Claremont Group Interiors has completed the interior design, specification, supply of furniture and relocation move-management to the new headquarters offices of Beachcroft LLP, one of the UK’s largest commercial law firms. Beachcroft employs some 1400 people at offices in the UK and Brussels and specialises in a wide range of commercial legal sectors including property, healthcare, employment and financial services.
Beachcroft is now the major occupier in Portwall House, a £26m development in Bristol, occupying some 80,000 sq ft on the building’s ground, first and second floors. The new building has been specified to an exceptionally high standard to reflect its role as both a statement of identity and as a reflection of corporate values for clients.
Claremont worked closely with Beachcroft and project managers APS on developing the brief for the building including making best use of two atria which flood the large open plan office areas with natural light. The focal point of the office at the base of the atrium on the first floor is the Village Green, an open space designed to encourage interaction between everybody who uses the building, including clients. Designed in an appropriately rural colour palette with subtly organic shapes and intelligent planting, the Village Green is a perfect meeting and break-out space next to the main open plan areas and library.
Other meeting spaces are specified to provide an ideal range of options including formal conference and meeting rooms in the client suite along with a range of more informal meeting spaces throughout the building. The public space of the building extends to a cafe on the ground floor located within a second atrium which not only helps to light the interior of the entire building, but provides a more relaxed feel to the cafe itself. Intelligent design is evident throughout the building. For example, the carpet has been specified to reflect not only the colours and artworks in the rest of the interior but also to act as a wayfinding aid through its use of colour and shape.
Speaking about the completed project, Patrick Firebrace, Assistant Finance Director of Beachcroft said: “We operate in an incredibly competitive market for both clients and talent so it was essential that the new offices reflect our position as one of the leading commercial law firms in the UK. We’re delighted with the results which have put down a bold marker for us as a business and which we believe are amongst the best offices not just in the UK but also in Europe.”
