A new space, a new story: Designing our office with purpose and sustainability

When people think about designing a new office, they often imagine picking paint colours, choosing furniture, and deciding between carpet or wood flooring. But for us, that part came much later. The journey to our new office wasn’t about finishes – it was about how we work, how we connect, and how we live our sustainable values every day.

Our goal was simple, but ambitious: create a space that is not only functional and beautiful but sustainable, human-centric, and unmistakably us. With the support of SPACE and a deeply committed, internal move team, we transformed that vision into reality.

Designing for people, not just productivity

Before a single chair was selected or wall colour discussed, we began by understanding how we actually use our workspace. SPACE helped us look beyond square footage and start thinking about psychology, movement, and wellbeing. How close should desks be to natural light? How far should people walk to fill up a water bottle? These might seem like minute details, but collectively, they shape how we feel in a space and how well we work in it.

The workshops between us were collaborative and data-informed, grounding design in reality rather than assumptions. We thought about what kind of spaces we need and where. What are the needs for our people? We need collaborative areas and we need quiet areas to truly support all our team's needs.

From string on the floor to inspired design

Once the spatial requirements were set, the creative process took flight. We looked at several layout options. One idea, a floor feature, came from an unexpected place – a stray piece of string on the floor during a first visit. That kind of observation became a metaphor for the entire design process: finding inspiration in the unnoticed and turning it into something intentional.

The final layout was shaped not just by expert input, but through internal debates, workshops, and a lot of sticky notes! It wasn’t about quick decisions – it was about consensus, shared ownership, and building a space we felt invested in.

Colour, brand and the psychology of blue

One of the early challenges was working with the landlord’s black fixtures and finishes that we couldn’t change – walls, lighting, even exposed services. Rather than fight the darkness, we worked with SPACE to lean into it, pairing these elements with light neutrals and subtle pops of Cundall blue.

The choice of blue wasn’t just a brand decision – it was rooted in colour psychology. Blue promotes calmness, focus and trust. In the workplace, it’s known to support clear thinking and emotional balance. Combined with our own brand guidelines, the result is an office that’s recognisably Cundall yet uniquely tailored to our Edinburgh office.

The circular economy in action

The most distinctive part of our office journey was the deep commitment to circular economy principles. Reuse wasn’t a footnote; it was foundational. We brought forward many materials and furniture from our previous office, and tasked SPACE with the challenge of integrating these into the new design without compromising on aesthetics or function.

And we didn’t stop there.

When our client, Rabobank, closed one of its offices, we saw an opportunity to give their furniture a new life. A member of our team, already in London, inspected the pieces, ensuring they matched the look, feel, and durability we needed. Back in Edinburgh, we worked to blend these pieces with our own, creating a coherent and attractive environment that tells a story of reuse and resilience.

Each item had to fit – not just physically, but visually and philosophically. Even refurbished pieces were carefully reupholstered to complement the palette, textures, and design vision. SPACE guided us on materials, but the final decisions and order were all managed in-house, giving us complete control over quality, comfort, and sustainability.

A challenge worth taking on

We won’t sugarcoat it – coordinating a circular economy based fit-out is challenging. It takes more time, more coordination, and a lot more flexibility. But what it gives back is something far greater: an office that doesn’t just look good but does good.

Sustainable design has real impacts on health and wellbeing too. With fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) thanks to reused materials and sustainable choices, we’ve created an environment that feels lighter, cleaner, and more breathable.

What we’ve learned

Designing our new office taught us that great design isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention. It’s about collaboration, compromise, and caring enough to ask better questions: How will this space make people feel? Can we do more with less? What does our environment say about who we are?

We’re proud of what we’ve created - not just because it is a wonderful place to work, but because every piece, every decision has a story. A purpose. And a future.