Durden & Hunt, Colchester

The brief:

New client Durden & Hunt asked MPL to fit-out a vacant premise in Colchester. Having seen MPL’s previous work, there was a huge element of trust between Durden & Hunt and lead designer, Amanda McKenna. The brief was simple: create an office that was unique and creatively fitting.

Our approach:

Durden & Hunt’s corporate identity is eclectic and the client a stylistic magpie but the outcome is always sophisticated aesthetic. As such, the first job was to appraise the agent’s current branches in London and Essex to ensure the Colchester office would be different but with a degree of brand continuity.

Obvious was a portfolio of offices underpinned by the use of the colour black, giving us a natural design starting point. The stylish opulence of the Art Deco era was chosen for this project, with the typical black paired with a muted turquoise and gold highlights.

On the tiles

The fine detail for this renovation came from a single hexagonal tile – black with a white, linear fan detail. The tile has been used for a head-turning impact, as a feature wall and to clad the base of the perching bar – with its statement curve providing a place for informal conversations.

The linear fan detail became a recurring motif, with MPL following the bespoke route to turn the vision into reality. A new ceiling was installed in the front-of-house, painted black with thin, linear channels that allow LEDs to shine through in a tile-mimicking fan pattern.

A partial partition that separates the soft seating area from the desk zone also had the fan treatment, with carefully arranged timber battens applied to the top-half glass. There’s also a tailor-made sideboard with an etched fan detail on the cupboard doors, with the style replicated on the ends of the office desks too.

Refining the regular

Elevating via detail is also evident in the choice of finishes. Rather than plain melamine or veneered wood, the new desks are finished with a marble-effect treatment. This has also been used to top the perching bar.

The flooring also has a twist. Instead of the much-seen herringbone pattern, a luxury vinyl has been chosen but in a traditional French parquet style that features an intricate geometric design. Further design upgrades include the statement drop chandelier, beautifully curved bar stools and a hammered metal coffee table – all glimmering in soft gold and playing into the Art Deco theme.

Lighting the way

Our meticulous planning ensured this office retained its appeal after dusk. The new faux walls in the front-of-house sit slightly proud of the existing surface, allowing for a channel of LEDs to be fitted at the very top. When switched on, they cast an almost ethereal glow around the space.

There is also a new external treatment drawing the eye. An internally illuminated fascia with built-up letters, an illuminated projecting sign and LED window displays demand attention from passing traffic.

Additional details

Durden & Hunt’s new Colchester office features two timber slat statement walls, one with an illuminated wall logo and a concealed door leading to a stairwell, and the other with an inset TV screen. A complete redecoration also introduced turquoise and grey walls, in keeping with the Art Deco theme.