You’d expect the agency behind memorable advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola, Ikea and KFC to work out of an equally unconventional office, and that is certainly true of Mother headquarters. That’s because the brand entrusted its redesign to award-winning interior-architecture studio Holloway Li, known for crafting innovativ eco-working spaces for Locke Hotels and The Hoxton.
‘I think they liked our approach,’ recalls Alex Holloway, who describes the space in Shoreditch’s famous Tea Building as ‘a little tired and in need of TLC’ when they first encountered it, adding ‘that also was part of its power – its laid-back feeling and roughness came with a charm and elegance that sometimes only older, lived-in spaces can have’. He agreed with his co-founder Na Li that this project would be one of ‘evolution not revolution’.
For once, space was not an issue for the duo, with no need to take down walls or move columns. Instead, they focused on introducing a series of light-touch interventions, including a glowing reception desk, versatile mezzanine and generous kitchen and dining area.
What's everyone reading?
Recognising that post-Covid office life is very different was key to unlocking the project. ‘Like many companies, it was hard after two years at home to remember the culture of the place that had existed before, and important for those who started working during the pandemic to be taught it,’ says Holloway.
‘The main sense we got was that this place was once the life and soul of the company and just needed to be reignited,’ he says. ‘It was about continuing their traditions but giving it a refresh so it felt new yet familiar.’
The designers immediately noticed the commonality between Mother’s existing aesthetic, founded in early-Noughties brashness, and their own ‘T4’ chair – inspired by the chat-show-sofa culture of that era. They filled the mezzanine with an assortment of ‘T4’ sofa modules in pink and orange.
Another important piece of furniture was the table that populates the communal dining area. This design was important to the Mother team as a symbol of the agency’s collaborative ethos and origin story, having been founded around a kitchen table.
So naturally, Holloway Li put its own spin on something unique and special: a table-and-bench set called ‘Big Red’. ‘The pieces needed to be light enough to be moved by two people, but strong enough to be danced on at the Christmas party. That led to a lot of troubleshooting in the factory!’
A tight three-week window for installation relied on meticulous planning and a team of trusted collaborators; ‘it was more akin to a pop-up install or fashion show,’ Li recalls. With its bold forms and playful palette, their sensitive intervention means the headquarters now morphs from a collaborative work environment by day to an entertainment venue and gallery at night.
‘People who have been there a long time can feel the continuity and respect for tradition, coupled with an ambition to adapt and grow.’ And when visitors report to that retro-futurist reception desk, they know exactly what to expect from Mother: the unexpected. hollowayli.com
