The reception area at Conductor frames a richly layered lounge setting beneath a suspended coffered walnut canopy. An olive-green sofa and a pair of shearling lounge chairs flank a sculptural burl wood coffee table, set over a deep red rug on the graphic terracotta-tiled floor. The patterned Dzek-tiled reception counter anchors the composition to the right, while lush potted trees on either side reinforce the biophilic sensibility running through the project.

A Flexible Workspace in East London Designed to Make You Forget You're at Work

Words by Eric David

London, UK

In the era of lifestyle-led offices and amenity-rich developments, the most compelling workspaces are no longer designed purely around efficiency. Increasingly, they borrow from hospitality, domestic interiors and public culture to create places people might actually want to spend time in. Conductor, a 3,400-square-metre flexible workspace in Stratford, East London, designed by architectural practice Studio Multi and interior design studio Tabitha Isobel, belongs firmly to that shift. Located within real estate group URW’s recently completed Coppermaker Square development, the project reimagines the workplace as a richly composed environment of artisanal warmth, abundant greenery and a quietly confident graphic sensibility, where atmosphere matters as much as function.

Integrated bench seating upholstered in soft green bouclé lines the planting bed at Conductor's atrium, paired with walnut café tables and small burgundy table lamps. The Celosia-tiled planter in vertical amber and black stripes anchors the composition, while lush tropical foliage and the warm copper-toned curtained column behind create a layered, garden-like working environment.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A vibrant lounge cluster in Conductor's central atrium centres on a pair of terracotta-orange sofas set over a deep wine-red rug, with a sculptural burl wood coffee table at its heart. Sheer copper-toned cylindrical pendants descend from the industrial double-height structure above, while dense tropical planting and the copper timber-slatted column create a warm, immersive backdrop. The graphic terracotta tile floor extends the earthy palette outward.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A wide view of Conductor's central atrium reveals the full breadth of Tabitha Isobel and Studio Multi's biophilic vision for this East London workspace. Terracotta and white ceramic floor tiles in a bold geometric pattern anchor the space, while copper-toned ring pendants float overhead. Sage-green glazed meeting room facades, tropical planting and a mix of walnut dining tables and midcentury-inflected lounge seating evoke a winter garden rather than an office floor.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

At the centre of the scheme is a dramatic atrium flooded with daylight. Rather than treating this volume as a circulation void, the designers turned it into the project’s social core: a lush indoor landscape of planting, seating and varied work settings that feels closer to a winter garden or hotel lounge than a conventional co-working hub. As Tabitha Organ, founder of Tabitha Isobel, explains, “We wanted people to walk in and be surprised that it was a workplace.” That sense of pleasant dislocation defines the experience throughout.

The material and chromatic language draws loosely from the copper heritage of the surrounding Coppermaker Works site. Rust, amber and deepened ochre tones run through floors, joinery and textiles, lending the interiors an earthy warmth that sidesteps the sterile coolness still common in many office environments, while tactile finishes such as bouclé, velvet, timber and ceramic introduce softness and intimacy. The palette is complemented by verdant notes that appear in painted timber frames, carpets, upholstered seating and the profusion of potted trees and foliage distributed across communal areas.

A closer view of Conductor's atrium floor illustrates the considered layering of zones across the space. The graphic terracotta tile pattern draws the eye through the composition, from the walnut dining cluster on the left to a relaxed lounge grouping anchored by a chartreuse rug and olive armchairs on the right. Lush tropical foliage frames both sides, with the sage-green meeting room facade and copper ring pendants above completing the scene.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A close view of the sage-green glazed meeting room facade at Conductor captures the strong architectural grid of the timber-framed screens and the dense tropical planting pressed against them. The vertically striped amber and black Dzek-tiled planter in the foreground echoes the project's graphic material language, while the terracotta tile floor and the foliage reflected in the glazing blur the boundary between interior and planted landscape.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A close exterior view of the library volume at Conductor captures the intricate surface of the Celosia terracotta brick by Mutina, designed by Patricia Urquiola, its lattice of geometric openings filtering warm light from within and casting delicate patterned shadows on the walnut door surround. A striped Dzek-tiled planter in the foreground overflows with lush foliage, its graphic vertical banding echoing the project's wider ceramic language. A glimpse of the illuminated bookshelf within heightens the sense of quiet discovery.

    Photography by Billy Bolton.

  • Viewed through the sage-green glazed facade, one of Conductor's meeting rooms reveals a warmly finished interior of walnut slatted walls, dark acoustic ceiling panels and a long white conference table. Small burgundy table lamps punctuate the surface, and sheer amber curtains soften the glazed boundary with the planted atrium, whose lush foliage is visible beyond the green-painted frames. The contrast between the room's dark intimacy and the daylit garden outside is quietly arresting

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • Inside one of Conductor's larger meeting rooms, a wall of bespoke walnut joinery with open shelving, curated ceramic objects and an integrated screen provides a refined backdrop to a long white conference table. Deep green carpet tiles, a dark acoustic ceiling and sheer amber curtains filtering the light from the sage-green glazed facade give the space a considered, hospitality-inflected atmosphere that sits at a comfortable remove from conventional boardroom design.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

Photographed from within one of Conductor's meeting rooms, this view through the sage-green glazed facade reveals the full breadth of the atrium beyond. The terracotta-orange lounge cluster, the walnut dining zone with small table lamps, and the dense tropical planting are all visible through the gridded frame, the green-painted mullions acting as both boundary and picture frame. A copper ring pendant glows in the upper section, and the mezzanine balustrade is reflected in the glazing above, the interior and exterior of the room held in quiet dialogue.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

A ground-level view of Conductor's atrium looks directly at the sage-green glazed meeting room facade, its strong architectural grid contrasting with the profusion of tropical foliage pressing in from either side. A striped Dzek-tiled planter anchors the foreground to the right, while the terracotta and white tile floor, terracotta-orange sofa and a burl wood side table are visible below, the atrium lounge zone framing the meeting rooms with a deliberately unhurried, garden-like quality.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

jpg A view across Conductor's atrium floor captures the layered spatial depth of the scheme, with a terracotta-orange sofa and sculptural burl wood coffee table in the foreground, lush tropical trees rising through the double-height volume behind, and the Celosia brick library facade visible in the middle distance. The green bouclé bench seating zone and copper-toned timber column frame the scene to the left, conveying the variety of atmospheres that coexist within a single continuous space.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

A long integrated desk runs along the edge of Conductor's central planting bed, its walnut surface punctuated by a row of slim pendant lamps that cast a warm, focused glow. Walnut dining chairs line the workspace, which is backed by an exuberant wall of tropical foliage. A copper-toned sheer curtain and timber-slatted column frame the scene to the left, reinforcing the project's consistent material warmth.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A symmetrical frontal view of the integrated bench desk at Conductor's atrium perimeter presents one of the project's most composed moments. The walnut structure sits flush against a wall of dense tropical planting, its surface punctuated by a row of slim pendant lamps whose warm glow is reflected across the sage-green desktop. The terracotta tile floor, vertical timber-slatted planters and the diffused light of the glazed atrium roof complete a scene that evokes a winter garden as much as a workplace.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

  • A close overhead detail of the integrated bench desk at Conductor's atrium perimeter captures the warmth of the walnut surface illuminated by a small pendant lamp, its glow pooling softly against the sage-green desktop. Rounded walnut dining chairs with sage upholstery line the workspace, while dense tropical foliage presses in from the planting bed alongside, blurring the line between working surface and garden.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • An overhead view of the terracotta-orange lounge zone in Conductor's atrium captures the richly textured burl wood coffee table surrounded by terracotta velvet seating on a deep wine-red rug. The graphic tile floor, striped Dzek-tiled planter and sage-green meeting room glazing are visible beyond, while lush potted plants press in from multiple sides, reinforcing the biophilic character of the space.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A close overhead view of the terracotta-orange lounge cluster in Conductor's atrium focuses on the sculptural burl wood coffee table at its centre, its richly veined surface dressed with stacked design books and a small ceramic object. The deep wine-red rug grounds the composition, while the modular orange sofa and a second terracotta lounge chair frame the periphery, their warm tones resonating with the copper-informed palette of the wider scheme.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • Viewed through a veil of tropical foliage, an overhead shot isolates a single walnut café table and sage-green armchair pair in Conductor's atrium dining zone. A small burgundy table lamp casts a focused warm glow across the walnut surface, its light contrasting with the cool terracotta and white geometric tile pattern below. The image distils the project's material palette to its most essential elements.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A top-down detail shot of a lounge vignette in Conductor's atrium shows a square burl wood coffee table dressed with curated objects — stacked books, a terrazzo tray, a deep red glass — set against a sage-green rug. The copper ring pendant visible at the edge of the frame and a low linen sofa in the background reinforce the project's characteristic layering of texture, colour and material across every surface.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

A view across the ground floor of Conductor captures the spatial dialogue between the reception area, the library and the industrial structure of the building. The Celosia terracotta brick partitions by Mutina, designed by Patricia Urquiola, form a distinctive perforated screen around the library volume, their intricate lattice casting layered shadows across the walnut joinery within. The sculptural steel staircase, raw concrete columns and exposed green-painted services overhead form a considered industrial counterpoint to the warmth of the materials below.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

The reception area at Conductor frames a richly layered lounge setting beneath a suspended coffered walnut canopy. An olive-green sofa and a pair of shearling lounge chairs flank a sculptural burl wood coffee table, set over a deep red rug on the graphic terracotta-tiled floor. The patterned Dzek-tiled reception counter anchors the composition to the right, while lush potted trees on either side reinforce the biophilic sensibility running through the project.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A strong graphic sensibility further animates the interiors. Geometric tile compositions appear across floors, counters and planters, creating rhythm underfoot and punctuating surfaces with playful order. These patterns help define zones without the need for excessive partitioning, guiding movement while maintaining openness. They also bring a certain visual wit to the project, preventing its earthy palette from becoming too subdued, while exposed concrete columns, visible services and the sculptural steel staircase offer an industrial counterpoint to the scheme's crafted refinement.

  • The reception lounge at Conductor, designed by Tabitha Isobel, centres on a low olive-green sofa set over a deep red rug beneath a dramatic coffered walnut ceiling canopy. Sheer cream curtains filter soft daylight from the full-height windows behind, while large potted trees and the patterned Dzek-tiled reception desk introduce the project's earthy, nature-informed palette. The industrial rawness of the exposed overhead services above adds a quiet tension to the scene.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A close detail of the reception desk at Conductor, clad in Dzek volcanic ash glazed tiles arranged in a rich patchwork of ochre, amber and deep brown tones. The graphic intensity of the tile composition is balanced by the warmth of sheer curtains diffusing daylight behind, the olive upholstery of a low sofa and a burl wood coffee table stacked with design books. The image captures the project's signature tension between artisanal craft and graphic precision.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A wider view of Conductor's café zone reveals the full composition of the space under its dramatic coffered walnut ceiling canopy. The tiled café counter, flanked by walnut stools and a sculptural oval counter table, anchors the centre, while the terracotta and white geometric tile floor demarcates the café footprint against the broader open plan. The deep rust-toned back wall panels and green-painted exposed services overhead reinforce the project's copper-informed material palette.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

The café at Conductor is a study in material richness and graphic precision. A suspended coffered walnut canopy with integrated spotlights lowers the ceiling over the service area, whose counter front is clad in a bold patchwork of Dzek volcanic ash glazed tiles in amber and deep brown. Walnut stools and pedestal tables cluster around the counter, their warm tones echoing the terracotta tile floor below, while a fiddle-leaf fig in a ribbed concrete planter introduces a note of biophilic ease.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

Across the ground floor, spaces shift fluidly in mood and scale. The reception sets the tone as a relaxed lounge anchored by low seating and rugs beneath a coffered timber canopy, while the graphic tiled counter introduces the project’s playful geometric language from the outset. Nearby, the café’s tiled counter extends this rhythmic material language, with a second timber canopy subtly defining the seating area. A sunken conversation pit offers a cocooned setting for informal meetings and focused work. Elsewhere, long communal tables, bench-integrated desks and quieter breakout corners support a range of working styles without slipping into the monotony of repetitive hot-desking layouts.

The furniture selection, which includes pieces by &Tradition, HAY, Ferm Living, Muuto and rugs by Nordic Knots, leans towards Scandinavian contemporary design: warm woods, clean lines and generous proportions that reinforce the project’s residential ease. Importantly, these elements do not read as decorative add-ons but as part of a broader spatial strategy aimed at comfort, flexibility and visual coherence.

The sunken conversation pit at Conductor, seen from within, reveals the full drama of its Symphonic Acoustic canopy overhead, its deep wine-toned surface punctuated by a constellation of circular pendant lights. Curved integrated seating upholstered in the same rich tone wraps the sunken floor, small round tables with glowing lamps distributed throughout. The planted atrium and copper-toned curtain columns are framed in the opening beyond, the lush greenery forming a vivid backdrop to the pit's enveloping darkness.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

The sunken conversation pit at Conductor is seen here from ground level, its curved deep wine-toned form sitting beneath the Symphonic Acoustic canopy studded with circular pendant lights. Round pedestal tables with small lamps punctuate the integrated seating within. Beyond, the copper-toned timber-slatted column and the green-painted meeting room glazing are clearly visible, with the planted atrium forming the backdrop and a glimpse of the reception lounge extending to the right.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

  • The sunken conversation pit at Conductor is seen here from the adjacent corridor, its curved deep wine-toned form emerging from beneath a dark canopy studded with circular pendant lights. Small round tables with candle-like lamps punctuate the integrated seating, creating an intimate, almost nocturnal atmosphere. Through the opening beyond, the copper-toned sheer curtain and the planted atrium are visible, the contrast between enclosure and openness central to the design's spatial logic.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A compact focus booth within Conductor's meeting room zone, framed by sage-green joinery and glimpsed through a partially open door. The intimate walnut-lined interior, with its ribbed wall panelling, textured acoustic ceiling and a single warm pendant lamp, creates a deliberately cocooned atmosphere. A simple counter desk, timber stool and open book suggest quiet, concentrated work — a deliberate contrast to the social openness of the atrium beyond.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A framed view from within the library at Conductor looks through a walnut doorway towards the communal working zone beyond, the two spaces separated by a diaphanous copper-toned sheer curtain. Walnut dining chairs line a long white communal table punctuated with slim table lamps, while the green-painted walls and exposed industrial ceiling of the adjacent space are visible in the background. The composition captures the project's nuanced choreography of intimacy and openness.

    Photography by Jasper Fry.

  • A layered view from the atrium working zone at Conductor looks through the Celosia terracotta brick screen into the library beyond, where walnut shelving stacked with tonal green and cream books glows under warm concealed lighting. A copper-toned sheer curtain softens the right edge of the frame, while the olive-green sofa and red-toned lounge chair of the reception area are visible through the opening, the composition illustrating the project's careful choreography of enclosure and connection.

    Photography by Billy Bolton.

A frontal view into the library at Conductor, framed by the intricate lattice of Celosia terracotta bricks by Mutina on either side, reveals the quiet intimacy of the space within. Walnut bench seating with patterned upholstery lines the back wall, its built-in shelving backlit behind a second layer of the Celosia screen, stacked with books and spherical decorative objects. Walnut dining chairs and a round table occupy the centre, the muted green carpet underfoot absorbing the soft, filtered light.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

One of the most distinctive moments arrives in the library, where Celosia terracotta brick by Mutina, a three-dimensional element designed by Patricia Urquiola, forms permeable partitions that filter light while offering privacy. The patterned blocks cast shifting shadows across walnut joinery and built-in seating, creating a space that feels quieter and more contemplative than the open atrium beyond.

A wide view of Conductor's reception and ground floor captures the full breadth of the project's spatial ambition. The coffered walnut canopy anchors the reception zone in the foreground, where shearling lounge chairs and a burl wood coffee table sit on a warm red rug. The sculptural steel staircase rises in the background, flanked by potted trees and raw concrete columns, while the Celosia brick library facade and Dzek-tiled reception counter flank the composition on either side, with a blurred figure on the staircase lending a sense of lived activity.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

Upstairs, private offices, booths and informal lounges overlook the planted atrium below, maintaining visual connection while creating psychological distance from its social energy. This calibrated sequencing of openness and retreat is one of the project’s strongest achievements. Rather than imposing a singular aesthetic across all areas, the design moves between scales, tones and degrees of intimacy, allowing each zone its own identity while remaining part of a coherent whole.

That, ultimately, is what makes Conductor’s design so persuasive. It understands that people work differently depending on mood, task and environment, and responds with spaces that are sensorially rich, emotionally intelligent and materially generous. In doing so, it offers a more evolved vision of office life, one in which productivity is understood as inseparable from comfort, mood and atmosphere.

A head-on view of Conductor's full atrium section captures the sculptural steel staircase ascending through the double-height volume, flanked by raw concrete columns and framed by the diffused light of the retractable sail blinds above. Sheer copper-toned cylindrical pendants descend on either side of the staircase, while tropical planting clusters at ground level and the terracotta tile floor, sunken conversation pit and café counter are all visible, conveying the layered spatial complexity of the scheme.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A wide elevated view of Conductor's atrium captures the full spatial theatre of the scheme in daily use, with two figures visible at work — one at the green bouclé bench desk below, another at a mezzanine perch above. Sheer cylindrical pendants in neutral and copper tones descend through the double-height volume alongside tropical tree canopies, while the graphic terracotta tile floor, sage-green meeting room facades and the sculptural steel staircase to the right articulate the complexity of the section.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

A view across the mezzanine level at Conductor captures the quieter register of the upper floor, where sheer cylindrical pendants in neutral tones hang before a row of warmly lit private offices. A blurred figure moves along the walkway, conveying the pace of daily activity. Below, the green-painted atrium balustrade and copper-toned ring pendants of the ground floor are reflected in the glazing, the two levels in constant visual dialogue across the open section of the building.

Photography by Billy Bolton.

A close overhead detail of the atrium dining zone at Conductor captures the warm interplay between walnut café tables, sage-green upholstered armchairs and the graphic terracotta and white tile floor below. Small burgundy table lamps cast a focused amber glow across the walnut surfaces, while the arc of a copper ring pendant cuts through the upper frame, anchoring the composition within the wider atrium volume.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A bird's-eye view of Conductor's central atrium reveals the full spatial ambition of the project. Retractable sail-like blinds diffuse daylight across the double-height volume, while sheer copper and neutral cylindrical pendants descend through the lush tree canopy below. The graphic terracotta tile floor, varied seating zones and sage-green meeting room facades are all visible, underscoring the design's carefully layered complexity.

Photography by Jasper Fry.

A Flexible Workspace in East London Designed to Make You Forget You're at Work