Rapha – London Headquarters
Jump Studios has created a new showroom and headquarters for cycling clothing and accessories company Rapha which is located in London.
Jump Studios has created an inspirational 1,600 sq m showroom and headquarters for Rapha that is not only provides a strong emotional connection with cycling, but also boosts productivity and efficiency.
Rapha – widely regarded as the world’s finest cycling clothing and accessories brand – approached Jump Studios with the desire to create a workspace that celebrates the culture of cycling. The design also needed to showcase the quality, design and functionality of Rapha products and support the cycling lifestyle of employees.
The end result – a refurbished two-storey former warehouse near King’s Cross in London – acts as a powerful magnet for employees, customers and suppliers alike.
Working within a restricted budget, Jump Studios created a flexible system of cages that are used to delineate spaces, provide storage and which can be easily reconfigured into open plan and semi-enclosed zones that support the differing needs of departments within the rapidly-expanding company.
The bespoke modular system comes in several heights while a range of fittings allow different functions, including drawers, shelves, rails, doors and pinnable surfaces. Fabricated from black-sprayed steel mesh and plywood, the cages allude to the engineered yet hand-made quality of bespoke cycles while also providing Rapha with a neutral framework for employees to surround themselves with products and express themselves with inspirational material. Jump Studios also created a complementary desk system using Key Clamp scaffolding tubes and plywood tops in a range of heights to suit different working practices.
Cycling as a lifestyle is placed at the heart of the design. The entrance features a ramp allowing employees and visitors to ride straight into the building. They can park their bike, put their cycling clothes in the wash and grab a coffee before heading to the main work area upstairs.
A pavilion structure houses many of these key functions including reception/café counter, post room, laundry and showers. Alongside are rows of cycle racks and a bike fix area as well as warehouse facilities. The café area itself was based on the Cycle Club concept developed by design consultancy Brinkworth.
Jump Studios worked with Rapha’s own in-house graphics team on the wall and floor-applied graphics which provide a further sense of identity to the space. Loose vintage furniture in a Scandinavian modernist style, sourced from Chase & Sorensen, is also scattered around the workplace.
Design: Jump Studios
Photography: Gareth Gardner
