Wallpaper factory to workspace: Bluebottle transforms historic Barley Mow Centre

Continuing a working partnership that spans close to a decade, architecture and design studio Bluebottle has completed their latest fit out for flexible office provider, Workspace – tasked with reworking the building to create a set of office suites while preserving the property’s unique features.

Based just off Chiswick’s high street, the rich heritage of Barley Mow Centre sits close to the design concept. As the former home of Sanderson Wallpaper factory – a family business that dates back to the 19th century – and one of the UK’s first shared office spaces, Bluebottle retained historical accents while avoiding anything ‘kitsch’. The studio stripped the style of the building back to its original design by exposing ceilings, sandblasting walls and adding industrial features such as lighting and Crittall windows painted in black. 

Originally converted eight years ago into an office and studio space, Bluebottle has made the venue more flexible by combining a café with the front of house and reconfiguring the layout to include a large open-plan reception and additional office unit. Elsewhere, a newly built terraced auditorium serves as an extra co-working space and area for presentations. Experts in workplace design, the team at Bluebottle wanted a positive experience within communal areas to enhance connection and positive wellbeing.

Made up of black, yellow and green, Workspace’s colour palette pays homage to the Sanderson family. Complemented with raw, natural finish materials including sawn cut timber, ‘imperfect’ handmade tiles and tongue and groove cladding, Bluebottle preserved much of the building’s former look and feel. To promote wellbeing, an abundance of plants and greenery was introduced, providing colour and a sense of calm. Keen to reflect the leafy west London suburb, Bluebottle added pots and planters and filled them with fresh plants and foliage to go inside an internal garden with a backdrop of natural light.

Bluebottle repurposed as much of the building’s contents as possible for sustainability. Vintage pieces have been balanced out with reupholstered banquettes, and rolls of wallpaper on the walls provide a further nod to the building’s history. Design consultancy and creative studio, OW-N Furniture, added furnishings from the arts and crafts modernist period of the 1930-40s including buttoned seating, rattan and metal framework.

Barley Mow Centre is just one of the 20-plus office spaces Bluebottle has created for Workspace, all of which hone in on collaboration and positive social experiences. Given each property has been designed to reflect its narrative, the result is a series of unique experiences for workers.