Algorithm free transforms the reception area of a London office building into a benchmark for contemporary lighting

In the heart of the City of London’s financial district, more specifically at 60 Threadneedle Street, stands an office building whose communal areas have recently been renovated by John Robertson Architects, a London-based studio specialising in the conversion and refurbishment of historic commercial buildings. This intervention follows a retrofit strategy that improves the user experience while respecting much of the existing architecture, designed by Eric Parry Architects and recognised with several awards.

In offices of this calibre, it is particularly significant to explore the value of lighting as part of the design of contemporary workspaces, with particular relevance in the reception area as a welcoming environment. It is here that the Algorithm free collection is able to integrate light, architecture and interior design in a single piece suspended above the large reception desk, like a frozen rain cloud of great geometric beauty.

This area of the building has been completely redesigned to become a more open, flexible and welcoming space, incorporating waiting areas, coworking spaces and greenery, with the intention of responding to new ways of working and creating considered professional atmospheres. Given its function as a place of arrival, reception and encounter, a luminaire with a strong visual presence was sought, capable of becoming an element of identity and of being aesthetically striking, even from the street.

And the Algorithm free collection, designed by Toan Nguyen, has met this objective thanks to its blown-glass spheres, suspended in the air, which make it possible to create a wide variety of bespoke compositions to suit the space. In this case, framed by a circular, backlit recessed ceiling, several lines of spheres have been arranged at different heights, following an organic line that gives form to a well-judged and carefully considered welcoming gesture.

The design of this unique and simple installation is able to generate a feeling so well suited to a reception area, offering a memorable arrival experience. At the same time, it visually organises the space, improving the wellbeing of those who use it and demonstrating the role of lighting in humanising work environments.

The combination of Algorithm free’s light appearance and sculptural presence defines the dialogue it establishes with the building, perfectly adapted to the geometry and scale of the lobby. Beyond its technical lighting function, the collection brings much more to this renovation project for a professional space, focusing on the first point of contact encountered by visitors, with all the significance this holds for the image of these London offices, which also boast a striking façade of high architectural quality.

The Algorithm free collection in the reception area of the landmark building at 60 Threadneedle Street in London is just one example of its infinite possibilities in terms of compositional creativity, capable of creating an elegant and natural aesthetic of luminous constellations that is perfectly compatible with the functionality and comfort required by contemporary workspaces.

Credits:
– Photography: Jack Hobhouse