We were thrilled to be chosen to help transform the central spaces at Bloxham Mill into a truly spectacular market-leading co-working facility for the post-COVID age. ‘The Hive’ at Bloxham Mill opened up its doors in the summer 2021.

The project involved a complete refurbishment of a large ground floor area where all walls had to be re-planned. The glazing was also addressed in order to increase the connection with the amazing surrounding countryside.

The new layout offers a variation of work environments with different levels of privacy. From fully enclosed meeting rooms and zoom rooms to open and social spaces along with a new large, shared kitchen.

It was an interesting project to work on at the height of the first lock down. We needed to look at ways to make it safe and private yet open and social since it was important to maintain the social aspect of a true co-working space.

Part of the challenge was to create a working environment that sits between a fully enclosed office and open plan. Besides the traditional issues of designing something that needs to be private yet social in an open plan landscape, we now needed to add the new pandemic requirements of distance and added screening. We developed a semi-open pod that offers increased privacy and acoustic separation whilst still letting you hear and have a visual connection with the flow of people. The Bloxham team has told us that the pods are now the most popular place to sit and work.

The use of natural materials, calm colours and living plants creates an inviting and relaxing atmosphere where people are happy to work.

We were delighted to have won the opportunity to design Warwick Business School’s second premises on level 13 of The Shard, and the works are now complete.

The brief was to create a 64 seat lecture theatre, 8 meeting rooms, an office, reception area and plenty of break-out space. The school wanted the design to relate to their previous phase of design on level 17 but also to have its own identity.

Following the success of level 13 we were asked by the school to undertake work on level 17 to make further design enhancements. This is now concluded and we are continuing to work with the business school on their Warwick campus.

Photography by Quintin Lake

Formerly a branch of Lloyds Bank, this building had undergone several poorly executed refurbishments that failed to address some fundamental compromises to the internal layout.

The interior was stripped out back to the masonry before the internal spaces were reconfigured. A new floor structure was introduced that allowed for the proper conversion of the expansive attic spaces.

Our clients acquired this building as a long term investment and were keen to undertake a refurbishment that would minimise future maintenance and maximise flexibility.

Roofs and windows were replaced and internal spaces opened up to provide flexible open-plan areas.

The original vaults of the bank have been converted into a meeting space and print room with the characterful vault doors retained as historic architectural features.

Mechanical and electrical services are exposed internally and have been carefully coordinated to achieve a simple, industrial aesthetic, whilst allowing for future addition and upgrading.

The building was let on a long lease before the project was completed.

Warwick Business school asked Berman Guedes Stretton to help find and design a London venue for their Masters degree course. Anna Algne acted as lead designer throughout the process; from the space analysis of two possible sites to a fully fitted out and furnished floor of The Shard. 

The project in included several meeting rooms, offices, a trading training room and two large lecture spaces.  A large part of the challenge was to provide these spaces in a building with floor to ceiling glass facades on all sides.

The finished design achieved a light, minimalist, open feel, which sits well with the the overall building. The layout makes the most of the stunning city views as you move through the interconnected, open-plan spaces.

Du Croz architects are now working with Warwick Business School on level thirteen of The Shard as they expand their teaching and meeting spaces. Work is due for completion in Spring 2018.

Photography by Quintin Lake: www.quintinlake.com

'Designing the classroom of the future...’ was the task Berman Guedes Stretton was asked to help achieve with the University of Warwick.

This project lies close to Anna’s heart and has been very well received by both teachers and students. It’s one of Anna’s major success stories, often referred to when discussing how to succeed with educational spaces.

Behind the project stood the IATL (Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning) who raised the money to give a rather tired 90s building, with a large lecture theatre and eight bigger seminar rooms a well deserved facelift. The extensive updates met the increased demands for a more flexible teaching space.

Anna Algne and BGS director, Roger Stretton, developed a scheme together with a large user group put together by the estate’s office.

Developing the design together with all user-groups equally represented, resulted in a fantastic team effort that truly maximised the building's potential. The project budget was efficiently shared between;

- improving the environment (ventilation, lighting & acoustics)

- designing light, inviting and comfortable aesthetics

- utilising the latest technology

- creating flexible rooms with new furniture to suit

To reach the flexibility aspired to by the teaching department along with the more static and specific usage of the conference department, Anna had to undertake a series of space planning exercises and flow analysis in order to find a solution that suited everyone.

The University of Buckingham approached Berman Guedes Stretton to bring a run-down grade II listed, victorian house back to life again. The house was in very bad shape and required work to be undertaken in two stages.

The first was to remove two large and unsightly extensions and take out all floors, services and interior finishes before replacing the roof. 

Anna Algne designed and managed the second stage fit out with new floors, interior finishes and services, including a lift and two new staircases. The project included the conversion of a small loft in the adjacent coach house to create a one-bedroom guest flat.