Gilbanks Offices – Manchester
Ekho Studio’s Gilbanks offices in Manchester redefine serviced workspaces with a bold, sophisticated design that melds high-end tailoring inspirations with modern functionality, creating an inviting atmosphere conducive to business and collaboration.
Ekho Studio has completed the design of a 34,000 sq ft serviced office environment for operator Gilbanks on the first and second floors of No. 1 St Michaels, the new, central Manchester landmark development from Gary Neville’s Relentless Developments.
The design was inspired by high-end tailoring and is all about form, detailing and exquisite and unique finishing touches. ‘It’s a bold and unfussy scheme that says, ‘We mean business’’ Ekho Studio Co-Founder Sarah Dodsworth explained, adding that ‘The interior design treatment is grown-up, classy and responsive to the market, whilst at the same time progressing this sector’s traditional look into something more sophisticated and modern.’
Gilbanks is located on the first and second floors of the building, offering private serviced offices and meeting rooms, along with a fully manned reception and welcome area, focus rooms, call booths, break-out spaces, a contemplation room, a club lounge and a finishing kitchen.
The spacious arrival lobby on the second floor was conceived of as the scheme’s ‘see and be seen’ catwalk area, extending the fashion and tailoring thinking. One of three pieces of specially commissioned abstract art by artist Mark Millsted lines the left wall. A stylish Vitra Daybed sits opposite, alongside three edge-lit panels that decorate the subtly textured lime-wash wall surfaces.
The striking, underlit reception desk features deep chocolate brown radial edges at its front, topped off by a monolithic, orthogonal, premium granite upper layer. For added drama and sense of arrival, a huge-scale, bespoke-made circular ceiling feature above is formed of buffed, stainless-steel panels formed into circles.
A waiting lounge area, featuring soft Allermuir seating clusters, arranged on a striking circular rug by EGE, sits behind reception as an anchor point, offering views over the public square below. The first of the scheme’s three eye-catching bespoke podium tables is located here, with a green marble top sitting on a conical, stainless-steel base.
The Club Lounge beyond features a high bar ‘teapoint island’ and rear kitchen area, finished in a bold and refined matte terracotta tones with Fenix and recycled Durat surfaces. Four Verpan bar stools are upholstered in Kvadrat fabric, whilst two stylish five-lamp stainless steel Rubn – Long John pendant lights hang above the shiny bar top.
The scheme’s numerous quiet rooms follow the same high-quality interior design cues, as do the kitchenettes and hydration points incorporated throughout, along with a private contemplation room to be used for prayer or by new mothers. Joinery booths break up the corridor routes, offering an opportunity to meet colleagues or take a call away from the desk.
The office suite designs employ finishes that complement the base build, whilst integrated tailored features include coving trims and tonal heritage paints responding to the Victorian historic building fabric.
Design: Ekho Studio
Lighting Designer: Artin
Furniture Supplier: Corporate Workspace
Contractor: TSK Group
Photography: Billy Bolton
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