Located within an Art Deco building in London’s Soho, once home to the Associated British Pathé film company and Universal Pictures, Film House is a beautifully layered workplace. Natural materials, clusters of plants and curated artworks all play their part.
Adding warmth and soul to the lower-ground entrance, ground-floor reception and breakout areas was an important design consideration. Our aim was to make the communal spaces feel welcoming while allowing the honesty of the architecture and materials to shine through.
The main feature of the lighting is a series of backlit ceilings, designed to emulate the feel of a natural skylight. We concealed linear LED fittings around each bay within the coffered ceilings, creating a soft, diffuse quality of light as it filters through the fluted glass. To get this effect just right, we created a mock up and extensively tested and refined the lighting on site.
Integrated layers of light add further contrast and visual appeal, highlighting the details that matter – the textured surfaces of the walls and columns, the smooth finish of the desks and the artworks on the gallery wall.
As Film House also includes a gym and lounge, our lighting design helps adapt the mood and rhythm of each space. In the spin studio, light synchronises with the music during a high-intensity class, creating coloured effects to heighten the immersion process. The sixth-floor Green Room offers a marked change of pace. Warm, indirect lighting is broken up by pendants and table lamps, creating a more intimate setting for meetings and entertaining.
Images © James French
