THE BRIEF
A renovated listed building in Glasgow city centre has offered CoVault the ideal space to create a contemporary hybrid workspace. The historic building, formerly the residence of a previous Lord Provost, convener of Glasgow City Council, now houses CoVault’s head office and a flexible multi-tenanted workspace which provides a one-stop-shop for local entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
When Victoria Scott, project manager at CoVault, started to plan the interior she knew that using several complementary flooring patterns would effectively zone areas for different activities, something that was key to making the most of the vast open plan space. With a selection of flooring designs in keeping with the age of the building and a welcoming home from home feel, the space now boasts a refreshed but characterful update that is sympathetic to its colourful past.
Client: CoVault
Flooring contractor: MacGregor Flooring
Sector: Office
Area: 326m2
A parquet herringbone floor featuring Blond Oak Parquet from our Art Select collection.
THE CONCEPT
Inspired by boutique hospitality venues, the interior combines the elegance of traditional style with the very best of contemporary design.
With a modern interpretation of classical style, the interior features a neutral colour scheme in warm whites and greys with interesting pops of bold colours, a blend of cosy tactile materials and the distinctive edgy designs of Timorous Beasties. The flooring adds both pattern and natural textures with areas of warm oak parquet design, a geometric tiled pattern and a bespoke hand-cut focal point.
Fleur Carson, commercial sales director, explained: “While it’s important to innovate to ensure a successful future, it’s also key to pay homage to the history of these protected buildings. Our designs are inspired by natural materials and manufactured with the latest cutting edge technology, therefore offering characterful floors that are architecturally sympathetic yet eminently practical for busy modern life.”
Victoria added: “The history of the building was an important consideration when specifying the flooring. The rear of the building, which now houses CoVault’s head office is believed to have been the ballroom. So, when we chose the floor design, we knew it was important that this complemented the period of the property and also injected some grandeur back into the outdated space.”
A bespoke design featuring various designs from our Art Select collection.
THE LOOK
Understanding how the flooring could separate the different zones yet also pull the whole scheme together, Victoria opted for an iconic oak parquet and a geometric tiled pattern inspired by grand Victorian villas. She then created a bespoke centre piece with a hand-cut pattern in a selection of stone designs.
The pinky-beige tones and authentic grain of Blond Oak are highlighted in the traditional parquet laying pattern, adding warmth and textural interest to the open plan space. Sitting directly under a domed cupola, a circular repeating pattern (as shown above) in Art Select, Fiore, Canberra, Alderney, Corris and Gallatin forms a stunning central feature and a focal point for comfortable seating.
With more than a nod to the building’s Victorian origins, an adjoining area has been given a distinctive look with the bold geometric pattern of Mayfair from the Heritage Collection. The harmonious colour combination of grey, terracotta, blue and white emphasises the opulence of the space and complements the grey panelling and plush furnishings.
Victoria said: “When designing such a large space, it was paramount that the division of different areas was made clear through the change of pattern in the flooring. The custom cut central feature was designed to echo the luxurious previous life of this room. It sits beautifully under the domed copula, which is itself a thing of beauty as well as an engineering marvel. The amalgamation of all the different patterns, textures, and finishes has pulled the space together beautifully and given it a welcoming ‘home from home’ atmosphere. The initial wow-factor really doesn’t wear thin when people come into the space for the first time.”
Pictured above is Victoria Scott, project manager at CoVault, alongside our parquet herringbone floor Blond Oak Parquet.