Reception areas are a building’s chance to make a lasting
first impression on its visitors, and construe subtle messages about the
companies that inhabit them. Not so long ago, this fact instigated glossy and
imposing spaces, with heels clomping across a vast expanse of marble floor
(with the sound echoing off the marble walls), but now they are a little more
welcoming. Online fashion store ASOS’s entrance for example, is done out in
reclaimed scaffold board and eclectic vintage furniture, with a bustling cafe
to boot, while Rochdale Council’s new did away with the ominous reception desk
altogether, opting for movable booths and so-called ‘floor-walkers’ to greet
visitors instead of receptionists.
“Receptions have always been important because they’re the
front door to your house,” says Suki Shocker, head of design at Hi Design,
describing BBA reception at Wigmore St London. “What I’ve seen change is that
they have become more human. Look back 10 years, and receptions were quite
prestigious; they had the expensive materials and durability, but they were
impersonal. They are used in a different way now.”
Hi Designs reception design for BBA is still impressive, but
in a softer way. Working with a single-height space but aiming to create the
illusion of depth, the firm drew inspiration from aviation with the reception
desk being a cross section of a wing. The ceiling and walls form a series of
angled and reflective surfaces that give the impression more space. Lights
embedded in the bulk head and media wall creating a sense of drama and interest.
Polished surfaces absorb light, giving the space its diffused glow.
“You’re always looking towards an illuminated space; there
are no dark grey ceilings or downlit areas,” says Suki. “We still have the
marble floors and mirror-backed glass, but there’s a human aspect. Visitors
don’t want a cold space – it needs to be warm and welcoming."
To see more of BBA’s office space please click here.
