Sustainability becomes second nature.

The National Trust, Europe’s biggest conservation charity, protects nature, beauty and history for everyone. It wanted to refresh workspaces at its headquarters, with sustainability and inclusivity in mind.

Delivered by:

Nigel Nolan

Other members:

David Barlow-Smith, Design Lead

Emily Thomas, Client Account Manager

Project information.

Client:

National Trust

Location:

West and London

Sector:

Commercial

Value:

Scope:

We worked collaboratively with interior architecture and workplace specialist WyldeIA to provide additional new furniture requirements. We also liaised closely with the in-house team at National Trust to ensure the project was completed within required budget and timeframe.

Project information.

Client:

National Trust

Location:

West and London

Sector:

Commercial

Value:

£7,100,000

Scope:

Delivered by:

Nigel Nolan

Other members:

David Barlow-Smith, Design Lead
Emily Thomas, Client Account Manager

Project overview.

Our work with National Trust has spanned two different office environments: the charity’s Heelis HQ in Swindon, Wiltshire, and more recently its London office in The Strand.

Objective

Creating multi-use spaces.

At Heelis, our team was challenged to upgrade outdated infrastructure, facilities and working spaces in an award-winning building that was originally constructed in 2005. The project needed to incorporate new workplace settings for meetings and collaboration, and also include quiet areas. The ‘town hall’ area was also reimagined to offer a large hybrid conference facility, in a previously under-utilised part of the building.

Target outcomes & Goals

Prevent highly reusable products from going to waste.

18%

Carbon footprint reduction

72%

Sustainable materials used

£145,000

Local community contribution

CCS / NEUPC

ISO 14001 accredited

Design and deliver a modern hybrid working environment, which integrates a sense of connection to National Trust’s core purpose.

Our approach.

The ambition was to create a variety of settings to enable people to choose the most appropriate environment based on their preferences and requirements.

What we did

Re-use over replacement.

Within Heelis, the team adopted a policy of reusing existing assets wherever possible. New products were only specified to enhance the new interior aesthetic and focus on inclusivity. Reupholstery of chairs, using natural and sustainable fabrics – such as wool and textiles manufactured using recycled ‘ocean-bound’ plastics – helped the new soft colour palette to work. This matched the building’s existing natural timber, and biophilic features integrated with the floorplate design.

Within Heelis, the team adopted a policy of reusing existing assets wherever possible. New products were only specified to enhance the new interior aesthetic and focus on inclusivity. Reupholstery of chairs, using natural and sustainable fabrics - such as wool and textiles manufactured using recycled ‘ocean-bound’ plastics - helped the new soft colour palette to work. This matched the building’s existing natural timber, and biophilic features integrated with the floorplate design.

Key challenges

Inclusive design.

Inclusivity and acoustic management were significant considerations. For instance, the furniture palette needed to be flexible enough to meet both physical and neurodiverse needs. Sustainability was placed at the centre of design, but budget management was also critical.

Custom solutions

Natural selection.

Following the success of the Heelis project, the same supply team was appointed for Savoy Hill House in London. WyldeIA overcame the difficulties of integrating existing on-site products with assets from other London premises. Natural wood features were introduced throughout the design to reflect the interior style within Heelis, while respecting the heritage architecture of the London premises.

Results.

Both projects placed people at the heart of design. Each iteration has achieved the ambition to make all users feel valued, welcome and able to work effectively. The team successfully combined accessible design strategies while complying with National Trust’s robust sustainability policies. The outcome is two stunning, inclusive and highly functional environments, delivered according to budget requirements.

National Trust is an amazing client and we loved bringing the project to life. Southerns Broadstock Interiors were committed to achieving the project ambitious while recognising the need for careful budget management. We’re grateful for the support of the entire supply team.

Results.

By working with Casala, we were able to prevent landfill waste and buy the product back. This enabled Coventry University to redistribute its budget into another scheme.

The team was incredibly professional and attentive to every detail. Our project turned out even better than we imagined.

Working with Southerns Broadstock Interiors as our furniture consultants has been an exceptional experience. From the outset, they understood the importance of delivering a space that stayed true to the architect’s original vision while meeting the evolving needs of the building’s occupants and the University’s sustainability ambitions. Their expertise in managing change and integrating legacy furniture alongside carefully selected new pieces allowed us to achieve a seamless aesthetic and narrative.”

The final design was full of practical solutions that aligned with the needs of those who will use the building day to day. By reusing significant proportion of our existing furniture, the FF&E package delivered meaningful carbon savings without compromising on quality or functionality.

As our furniture consultants, SBI brought a structured and methodical approach to refining the FF&E specification and space plans, ensuring we had sufficient understanding of possible furniture options to complement the architectural vision, and to support needs of the building’s future users.

The team’s attention to detail and commitment to quality have delivered a beautifully furnished, functional and inspiring environment that perfectly reflects the aspirations of the project.

Working with Southerns Broadstock Interiors as our furniture consultants on the LaMB building has been an exceptional experience. We are delighted with the result — a beautifully furnished building that embodies the values of the University of Oxford.

Broadstock provided a good level of service throughout the entirety of the project. They were fully engaged, were able to offer invaluable advice and present opportunities to realise our aspirations, while remaining conscious of our principal requirements and budget constraints.

Broadstock’s strength was the team’s ability to work collaboratively with the client, providing quick responses in regard to drawing information, samples and cost advice. The team was professional and personable, delivering a good level of service. They were also able to remain flexible and worked hard to push every inch out of the scheme.