A Vibrant and Flexible Co-Working Space in London

A bespoke collection of furniture, lighting and shelving designed for a creative office and co-working space in London.

Far from the tedious workspaces of the past, modern offices provide a more engaging space to work, whether it’s with an open-plan layout that encourages collaboration or cleverly designed furniture that keeps a balance between social and private areas. The new office, co-working space and recording studio of Common Knowledge, a music management company and creative incubator based in London, stands out with its imaginative design and impressive flexibility. Completed in a collaboration between THISS Studio and Mitre and Mondays, the new Common Knowledge site in Shoreditch, London, sings with a vibrant, modular design that reflects the company’s creative soul. The space features a series of bespoke office furniture, lighting and shelving that keep function, art, and craftsmanship in a harmonious dialogue with each other. Additionally, the team put sustainable design principles at the heart of the project.

“Designing custom-built furniture and lighting allowed us to not only tailor the space but also curate the visitor’s experience. The collection of objects within the space are fluid, suggesting functional assemblies but ultimately allowing the daily use of the office to adapt them. They remain separate from the existing building which has its own very distinct character, but nestle comfortably within it,” says Tamsin Hanke, Project Architect, THISS Studio.

Located in a former warehouse, the new office and recording space occupies the building’s upper two floors. The site’s architectural and structural restrictions encouraged the team to think creatively. Specially designed as a social hub, the interior features modular furniture that allows the company to create different layouts and thus adapt the spaces to different needs. Furthermore, the custom pieces of furniture are easy to disassemble and pack, allowing for a convenient move to another location in the future, if needed.

A carefully chosen material and color palette to create a vibrant, eco-friendly workspace.

Light, color and texture all play a crucial role in the new Common Knowledge space. In the co-working area, custom sails made of a non-woven paper material filter the light to create a cozy mood. Elegantly curved thanks to a green steel frame and precisely placed tension cables, the sails come to life when the LED lights turn on and accentuate the paper’s textures. Red, green and warm brown hues add pops of color throughout the interior. For example, the co-working space features red benches and red Valchromat joinery; chairs with multi-colored frames; and sage green accents.

“Although the workspace is flexible, it was important for the furniture to have a presence; fitting into and celebrating the building’s existing dimensions but also providing new and exciting forms. We always focus on details which celebrate material connections, allowing us to play with when these were hidden or revealed,” says Finn Thomson, Mitre and Mondays.

A toasted cork, aluminum and steel table serves as a communal desk. The team designed this table with two halves that come together or separate in different configurations. Matching stools provide comfortable seating, along with a red bench. Throughout the space, there’s a constant play between materials, textures and colors. For example, the freestanding aluminum benches feature red tops that give a nod to the surrounding furniture. Aluminum desks that run across one side of the co-working area boast green steel accents.

The material palette is not only high-quality but also eco-friendly. The team used lightweight and durable materials, including renewable cork, sustainably sourced aluminum, boiled wool, paper, stainless steel, and wood sourced from a felled sycamore tree.

THISS Studio worked closely with Mitre and Mondays to develop the bespoke furniture and lighting, from prototypes and materials to the final details. Then, Mitre and Mondays manufactured each piece in their own workshop in Islington, London. Finally, THISS Studio and Mitre and Mondays collaborated with Noatune to complete Common Knowledge’s new recording studio. Photography © Henry Woide.