10/09/2018

Zip partners with Architecture Today for workplace design workshop

What happens when eight of the UK’s top architecture practices get together to answer a creative brief? The answer is set to shape the future of our workplaces.

The Architecture Today and Zip Water UK workplace design charrette took place in an unfurnished office development near King’s Cross, the R7 Building, designed by architect Duggan Morris as part of Argent’s ongoing development project.

This venue was the perfect blank canvas to inspire the creative minds of teams from Feilden Fowles, Grimshaw, Hawkins\Brown, HOK, MAKE, Orms, Piercy & Company and Squire & Partners, who were tasked with exploring the idea of the kitchen in the workplace. Could the multi-functional heart of today’s home inspire positive change in office design? Rather than an afterthought, could the kitchen be used to structure a space or as another place to work? And what about its positive impact on staff wellbeing?

Each group had a day to develop their ideas and were then invited to present their concepts and designs to an audience of peers and colleagues, as well as an expert panel. From drawings and models to a full-scale app designed and built on the day, the responses to the brief were wide ranging and thought provoking.

Charlie Green, Co-founder of The Office Group, Carissa Kilgour, Workplace Director at LandSec, Russell Owens, Marketing Director at Zip Water UK and Neil Usher, Executive Consultant at Unispace, each delivered inspiring and stimulating feedback to the teams, sparking debate and discussion.

“We’re excited to have created a space for the best architectural minds to come together to discuss new philosophies and ideas that will have a positive impact on employees, businesses and communities,” explains Russell Owens.

“As innovators in drinking water – a keystone of office wellbeing and productivity – we want to start a dialogue about the true importance of hydration in the modern workplace. We would like to thank all of the participants for their incredibly original responses.”

To see the results for yourself, make sure to pick up a copy of September’s Architecture Today, which features all the concepts, or visit the microsite here.