Workplace
Enyo Law
Creating a sophisticated office with pragmatism and wow-factor for litigation practice Enyo Law
1 Floor
9 Week Programme
10,000 Sq Ft
The Challenge
When Enyo Law moved to their new office, they wanted a space that would allow for their continued growth, reflect their sophistication as an established practice, feature a significant number of private offices, but still work for client entertainment.
The Solution
We installed a series of two- to three-person offices around the perimeter of the office, using acoustic glass and flexible walls to allow light to permeate and create multi-purpose areas for growth and entertainment.
The Result
The result is a sophisticated and contemporary office that speaks to the professionalism and gravitas of the firm whilst having a fresh, modern look and feel, and plenty of wow-factor.
Enyo Law is an established litigation practice that assists clients with international litigation and arbitration. With a strong and trusted reputation in London and internationally, they have 20 partners and are comparable in size to the largest commercial disputes teams in the City of London.
Having been located at their previous offices for many years, they came to us when they were looking to move to larger premises. The change was part of a wider expansion plan, which not only saw their numbers escalate, but also took them into a new phase of their company’s development, reasserting its position as an esteemed practice.
Their new, contemporary building needed to reflect and accommodate that progression, adhering to the wants and needs of a modern working environment whilst still providing for the practical needs of a discreet business where client confidentiality and data protection were paramount.
Form and function
The nature of Enyo Law’s work meant that a fundamental part of their requirement was to fit a large number of two-to three-person offices into the space, all with a similar or equitable offering in terms of size, space, storage and benefits. This presented a particular challenge, as well as laying the foundation for how the space would unfold.
Alongside the offices, they also needed several meeting rooms offering the flexibility to make spaces bigger or smaller according to different capacity requirements. Meanwhile, the team wanted the reception area to make a real impact as staff and visitors arrived.
Connectivity and curves
The building itself is large, square, glass and with two sides offering prime views to the world outside. Security was a big consideration, so while we facilitated the flow of light through the space with glass walls, we prioritised acoustics throughout as well as insulation. Equally, storage was a significant factor, with an entire print room dedicated to storage and paperwork.
While the offices lined the perimeter of the space, taking up the prime positions by the window, support staff were located in the middle of the office. To make sure that they too benefitted from the light, once again we maximised the use of acoustic glass walls, as well as introducing a curved approach throughout, softening the space and creating a unique sense of flow.
First impressions
The reception is a main feature of the office – a proportionately large space that’s designed for visual impact. There’s a curved seating area and a guest drinks point that stands out both literally and figuratively, wrapped in fluted walnut – such was its success that the team took to calling it ‘The Great Wall of Enyo’. A tapered, black oval reception desk makes an impression against a largely monochrome backdrop, while a ring of light underneath reinforces a sophisticated architectural style that permeates the office.
Flexible and sociable
The meeting rooms were a high priority, leading off the main reception and taking clients and visitors on a seamless journey into the office but without entering more secure areas. Created as a flexible meeting suite and event space it features folding walls as well as the continued curved theme, which allows them to hold committee meetings, social functions and smaller staff or client gatherings.
Supporting staff
The staff tea point is an important part of the office, particularly given the long working hours of the team and the enclosed nature of individual offices. This is where people can come together, socialise or sit and work informally on a laptop. A welcoming and convivial space it’s complete with large fridges and prep areas so team members can make meals at any time of the day. Often team members work late into the night or the early morning, so it was important to give this area a more welcoming, homely feel, where people can have breakfast, lunch, dinner or a coffee.
It includes a variety of seating including booths, a convivial island, and window seats as well as additional soft colours to separate it from the rest of the office whilst still being aligned with the overall style. The result is in keeping with the sophistication of the wider design, whilst being a little more relaxed.
Monochrome with a twist
Aesthetically, the office is almost exclusively neutral, and the team were keen to stick closely to a monochrome palette. We encouraged them to add texture, warmth and sophistication, bringing in soft wood tones, slatted walls and stone finishes. We also drew on brand colours with pops of teal, cool blues and greens. These worked well to highlight the curved features displayed in ceiling details and walls throughout.
The result is a slick, contemporary office that feels stylish and engaging at the same time. The client was heavily involved, working collaboratively with us throughout.