Blake Envelopes Offices – Yeovil
AXIS House transformed a space into a modern, biophilic office space for Blake Envelopes, reflecting the brand’s creativity with playful design elements, natural planting, and vibrant colors.
Operating for over four generations, from their headquarters in Yeovil, Somerset, Blake Envelopes offers sustainable envelope solutions and high-quality envelope overprinting to over 45 countries worldwide. In the UK alone, one in four envelopes is a Blake Envelope!
Having followed a growing trend of UK businesses adopting a hybrid working model, the Blake team wanted to reconfigure and increase the appeal of its commercial office space. Principally, it wanted to inject energy back into the workplace, creating a vibrant environment with a real wow factor where staff would proactively enjoy coming together in person.
Additionally, the brand wanted to retain existing staff while attracting new top talent. Key to the brief was establishing a dedicated break-out area to inspire creative meetings on-site, together with an aesthetically attractive workspace that made the best use of available natural light.
The Hybrid Work Solution
We transformed Blake Envelopes’ CAT A office space in Yeovil with a modern, biophilic design, befitting the brand’s ingenuity, creativity, and standing. With playful flourishes, extensive natural planting, and a cohesive colour palette, the new office fitout delivers an engaging and contemporary space.Delivering Blake Envelope’s vision involved consultation of the team’s desires, pain points and how the business operates day-to-day.
A Transformative Solution
Converting an industrial warehouse unit into grade-A office space was a significant undertaking, made more challenging by the need to complete it within a tight timeframe and without impacting live operations for existing client sites.First off, structural and safety surveys were undertaken to assess the condition of the building and determine the full extent of works needed. Extensive staff consultations followed before the concept and technical design teams set to work developing the master renovation plan.
This included the following key elements:
- Considered separation of the warehouse and office areas
- Two-storey office layout to optimise floor space and enable a range of different working zones.
- A full height, central atrium to create a striking focal point and multi-functional workspace.
- Glazed facade and skylights
- Feature staircase and lighting
- Multiple meeting rooms and flexible space configurations
- Large breakout or kitchen space
- Exposed utilities for a contemporary office aesthetic
Design Envelope
In a nod to the brand, we created a feature wall comprising different-sized, patterned, and coloured Blake Envelopes, creating a clear visual link to the core product that Blake designs and manufacturers.We also incorporated angles throughout the design of the walls and flooring to represent and reflect envelope geometry!
Conclusion
The project was completed in six weeks, with design and detailed finishes agreed upon before the office fit-out started on site. This ensured all specifications and materials were signed off, costed, and sourced, before the physical transformation began.The new office environment, while perfectly aligned to the brand and needs of in-office workers, now also fulfils the requirements of hybrid working, with fully equipped hot desks and storage for employees.
The result is a more agile, visually engaging, and dynamic workspace, equipped with quality furnishings and fittings that exude the vibrant and creative energy Blake Envelopes wanted from their new head office.
Design: AXIS House
Photography: Marek Sikora
