Locally based design practice SODA Studio has unveiled its redesign of two floors in Nineteen Wells Street, a 1929 Art Deco landmark in the heart of Fitzrovia. The new offices of Great Portland Estates (GPE) are crafted to honor the 18th and 19th century heritage of the historic neighborhood through a timeless and considered design emphasizing craftsmanship. “We worked hand-in-hand with GPE to embrace the defining spirit of Art Deco, which includes strong lines, bold gestures and expressive forms,” says SODA lead architect Mel Athanasiou. “The result is a workplace deeply connected to its context: past and present, building and neighbourhood, elegance and ease. A landmark reborn with a contemporary edge, yet unmistakably Fitzrovian.”
Hospitality and residential influences compose a workplace reminiscent of a stylish cafe. Large ground floor windows pour sunlight into lofty interiors layered with warm neutral tones and bold Art Deco accents. Tall bookshelves visually expand both levels, linked by a sculptural spiral staircase echoing its raspberry red colorway across metalwork and hand-crafted metal joinery. Glazed partitions and floor tiles laid in a tumbling dice pattern further punctuate the office.
Low lighting intensifies tone and texture to calmly instill intimacy and focus in the lower level, where new lightwells and paving lights infuse daylight to enhance a moodier palette of deep greens. Large existing columns are bridged by an expansive stone worktop adjacent to the boardroom, complementing bespoke rugs installed as key focal points.
