We have been delighted to work with, New York and London based, design studio, The Morris Project to launch their stunning interior space at London’s 22 Bishopsgate.
If we’re currently asking, what do companies need to do to get people back into the workplace? Then it is this! Commissioned by AXA IM and Sir Stuart Lipton for the Capital’s most eagerly anticipated new 62 storey building, The Market, is Europe’s first ever wellness food hall. It is UK’s first building built to the new Wellness Standard (and only the 2nd building in the world to have this accreditation)
The design team’s aim was to emulate London’s tradition of the guilds, of which there were once 90, whose purpose was to provide welfare to their members, and a place to gather and share ideas. After years of decline, urban guilds are experiencing a revival, and the design for 22 Bishopsgate seeks to emulate their noble objectives; encouraging the development of community while supporting collaboration, well-being, and discovery.
Key features of the 20,000 ft collaboration and wellness market include:
- The Restaurant & Terrace will provide a welcoming “local” for meetings and gatherings; The Terrace has its own bar and relaxed seating
- The Market includes four kiosks which will offer a variety of nutritious & delicious options and highlight a diverse group of future tastemakers
- The Market Hub Events Space will support dynamic programming of music, talks and private events
- Floor-to-ceiling walls at 20% taller than in a market-standard building, give a sense of volume and space to increase wellbeing of residents. Triple glazed windows, which not only increase the energy efficiency of the building but also reduce noise and boost the level of natural daylight by 60%, reducing need for internal lighting and providing a healthier environment
- Innovative technology creating convenience for residents who want their coffee ready to pick-up on arrival, or lunch delivered to their desk
Amy Morris is Founder of the Morris Project, and recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Design. Morris said; “Our number one goal was to design a space that is a hive for collaboration. Providing support for balance and wellbeing in business and daily life. I believe whole heartedly in 22 Bishopgate’s vision to radically embrace a new environment for the way we work. Your surroundings have a strong impact on your day. The Morris Project’s partnership with DesignLSM aims to create spaces that invite collaboration and spark ideas. It’s a dream project with a dream team in one of my favourite cities.”
British artist, Sintra Tantra has created a unique installation, Illuminated (2021), which will stretch across seven arches. Sinta Tantra’s immersive site-specific frames the central social space of the building. The work draws inspiration from the rich history of the City of London to inform a contemporary reading of this dynamic new public space. A careful composition of geometric forms suspended in a formal tension creates a sense of harmony and balance, echoing the ethos of wellbeing and creative exchange at the heart of 22 Bishopsgate.