The concept behind IA Interior Architects’ new 510m2 design studio at Harella House is based on the premise that work is an activity, not a place. The studio is designed to inspire innovation and enable interpersonal experiences that can only happen face-to-face, all within the warmth, casual comfort, and ambience of home. Harella House was originally home to a clothing company in the 193os. 

Now upgraded, achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating and a significant reduction in carbon emissions, the structure’s fourth floor with pitched roof, open area, large windows, mezzanine, terrace, and architectural features of wood and brick resonated with IA’s aspiration to create a welcoming space with a domestic vibe. The studio is currently pursuing a Fitwel Rating through its use of materials, ventilation, acoustics, flexible facilities, and access to natural light. The office as home was envisioned as a venue with the same welcoming familiarity, warm hospitality, and ease of transition from space to space that nurtures the balance and wellbeing associated with the ideal of home. 

For the London team, a family culture at its core, this meant stepping away from a mindset of individual ownership to a more shared experience that prioritizes need over entitlement—an experiment and a challenge they were ready to take. Accommodating team members’ differing daily routines as well as ensuring a healthy work-life balance inspired a flexibility and simplicity uncommon to office environments. Entered at the Landing Lounge, the studio exudes a hospitality feel that moves into the Kitchen—the names of studio zones reference domestic life to signal the transition—which flows to the Den, one of three breakout areas for social gatherings, gaming, or respite. 

Behind the Kitchen is the Haven, a smaller, more intimate breakout space for meditation, a mothers’ room, or to focus your energy before an important presentation. The Sheds, a highly visible meeting room with glass walls, becomes two small rooms via a retractable acoustic wall. The Workshops, on the other side of the Sheds, offer a of workstations for focused work. Co-creation takes place at the open, central R&D area, a platform for innovation. Inherently flexible, with a variety of work surfaces, it flows into the Library, where drawers of materials are topped by another generous work surface. 

The Loft, tucked away at the back of the studio, is on the mezzanine. Similar to a study, it serves more focused work, offering a work lounge and additional desking. Here too is the Safe, a third breakout area, where you might share a beverage with a colleague at day’s end. Running the length of the studio, the Terrace is great for lunch on a sunny day. Team members have a personal locker fitted with outlets to charge electronics overnight and use a tote to carry their laptop and other items throughout the studio. Work points are bookable via IA’s Harbor@Work App, offering an overview of availability on any given day.