Black River – London Offices
Oktra has designed the new office of asset management company Black River located in London, England.
Founded in 2003, Black River is a global asset management company specialising in alternative investment strategies. With experts in 13 countries, they are one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial and agricultural services and products.
Black River needed to relocate their offices from Surrey to central London as their parent company, Cargill had decided to undergo an office relocation.
They wanted a modern design that reflected the history of their business and agricultural heritage. Working closely with two key stakeholders and their project manager, the Oktra team constructed a design which subtly hinted to the ethos of their brand and echoed their agronomic background.
As this was their first significant move since the formation of the company, staff engagement was a focal point of the relocation process. The Oktra team put together orientation booklets to put nerves at ease and to ensure everyone was informed and felt involved in the move.
The relocation to Orion House, a high rise building with tight staircases and difficult accessibility made the logistics of the move somewhat challenging. With years of experience in difficullt buildings, our project manager created a project plan which worked around these obstacles with ease and efficiency.
We created a sleek high spec workspace with an open plan feel. By juxtaposing a neutral colour palette with splashes of green throughout we encapsulated the company’s colours in a subtle and vibrant way. Our designers sourced vintage ploughs and worked with a structural engineer to safely suspend each piece to create unique and unusual hanging display. Placed in the reception the striking feature leaves a remarkable impression on everyone who enters the Black River office.
Black River are delighted with their unique and inspiring office which reflects their agricultural roots and functions as a versatile workspace.
Design:Â Oktra
Photography: Thierry Cardineau
