KI EUROPE SHOWROOM

The proposed relocation from their High Holborn offered KI Europe the opportunity to review, redefine and recreate a market leading Furniture Showroom that reflects the status of KI Europe as a major player within the European furniture market. The design brief encouraged work.place.create. to establish a new creative working and showroom environment that maximises the KI product range available on display, whilst effectively showcasing how their education and workplace furniture systems work within a fully functioning workplace.

The design solution maximises the visual impact of the recent KI re-brand and website launch with the proposed new workplace/showroom through consistent use of brand values, colours and imagery that reflects the heritage, future direction and innovative nature of the KI business as well as its global reach. The final spatial design needed to be adaptable and flexible to accommodate regular re-design to support changes in the market or product launches, as well as changes in the staff numbers, effective collaboration and meeting and event spaces.

work.place.create. developed a layout for the site that was intentional and designed with purpose, allowing the product offering across workplace, education, higher education and hospitality to flow through the building and cross over with KI Europe’s working environment for their staff. This design decision was centred on the desire for suppliers, clients and consultants to be able to see KI product being effectively utilised during any showroom visit. work.place.create. worked closely with the product designers from KI to ensure that design classics, such as the 800 series storage units and Postura+ chairs, were interwoven with current and new product ranges, including the Sutton Chair and Logon Task Chair.

Our vision for the combined workplace and showroom environment was for a muted palette to ensure the focus of the space will always be the furniture products. However, the scheme does introduce a bold hospitality bar in the centre of the ground floor, which forms a focal area for guests, clients and designers to meet and explore the furniture solutions around them. The aesthetic of the bar is underpinned by a series of gentle curves that reflect the local vernacular architecture and the historic nature of the Hat and Feathers Conservation area, where the showroom is located.

The new showroom is a collaborative achievement originally envisioned by work.place.create, the project evolved through a close partnership between KI Europe, IKON Group as main contractor, and Design with Narrative (DWN) as the design delivery partner.

work.place.create. are very proud to announce the shortlisting of KI Europe Workplace and Showroom project at the International FX Awards in November.