FMJ.CO.UK 22 BISHOPSGATE CASE STUDY
NOVEMBER 2021 25
is why we welcomed working on this incredibly
iconic project, as well as having the opportunity
to create a concept that speaks to the modern
tenants of this building whilst also reflecting the
area’s commercial heritage. Part of our process is
understanding the location and the demographics
right at the beginning, before the design stages, to
discover what people actually need and want from
the space and how they will use it.
“People will be coming in – hopefully day in day
out – so it was important to approach it from the
customer point of view. We wanted to create a
space suited for meeting and gathering – it needed
to work for all parts of the day. Another key aspect
that was important right from the beginning was to
create somewhere timeless, a place where people
will want to come back to day a™ er day and which
in five-year’s time will continue to feel like their
community hub.”
SOCIAL SOLUTION
The Market is so much
more than a corporate
catering space. It
houses a restaurant,
a food market
which comprises
four kiosks (with
one of the kiosks
being a rotating
concept that will
be selected by the
tenants quarterly),
an external terrace,
a culture space and
a ‘Speakeasy’ that
can support a mixed
programme of music, talks and
private events.
Explains Taylor: “The finished project
reflects our overall vision, with the key elements
being to create a community, a timeless interior
and also a space that fitted with the overall vision of
22 Bishopsgate. Even though the fit out didn’t need
to emulate the rest of the building we wanted to
reflect that aspect and how the food is in line with
the wellbeing ethos, which were key elements.
“It’s a large space to fill so we worked very
closely with Rhubarb to learn what their
operational vision was, from the type of
food on oŽ er to the number of kiosks.
Before we could do anything on plan
we needed to understand how this
space was going to be used. What
is the customer journey, from the
morning to the a™ ernoon and into
the evening; from 11am coŽ ee,
lunchtime to mid-a™ ernoon? What
will be served and where? That
helped us begin to create zones and
work out the footfall, including the first
part people see coming in and where
they’ll be drawn to.”
Entering the space from the li™ s you’re
struck by the welcoming “local area” which
is ideal for social gatherings, operating
eŽ ectively as somewhere to grab a
coŽ ee with colleagues in the
morning to a place where
people can congregate
in the evening. The bar
area even includes a
wine tasting table
with views out
towards the city.
DESIGN VISION
The main success
of the Market is the
fact that despite it
being a large space to
fill, visitors are drawn
into the space and once
there can choose from a number
of areas to socialise, work or simply
contemplate the view.
“In the middle of the day there’s an area where
you get a splash of sunshine so people like to sit in
that space”, says Taylor. “In mid-winter with the sun
coming down Threadneedle Street you can just sit
and watch.”
It took some careful planning to ensure the space
wasn’t too imposing, for as Taylor explains: “We
had the challenges of designing for essentially what
is a long rectangular box which is glazed on one
side. This is why we came up with the idea of arches
to break up the long expanse of wall. That feeds life
into the rest of the space. When people enter out of
the li™ they will hear the buzz of the kitchen which
is open plan and the smell will help entice them in.”
Another hugely important element of the design
was to create a sense of community. This is why the
finished look captures the cra™ ed ethos of London
guilds. There were once close to 90 guilds based
mostly in the inner city with their purpose being
to oŽ er welfare to their members and a place to
gather and share ideas. A™ er years of decline these
urban guilds have experienced a revival in recent
years and the design for Level 2 seeks to emulate
their objectives, encouraging the development of
community while supporting collaboration and
discovery.
This rests on a range of bespoke murals – each
one seen as an individual painting – coupled with
the use of natural materials, so™ natural plaster
and oak arches communicate a sense of balance
and harmony, allowing guests to come together for
shared experiences.
“Relating it to the London guilds and the idea
of why the guilds were started which was about
welfare and creating a community, all made sense,”
says Taylor, “and it helped to create a foundation
for the design of the project which saw us through
until the end.”
The furniture also brings some fresh design
elements into the second floor, including some
beautiful pieces of cra™ ed furniture such as the
Lightwood Stools, designed by British designer
Jasper Morrison and manufactured by Maruni.
These are designed in a range of heights depending
on whether you choose to sit up at a bench or
a table and seating choices include an updated
design version of the 675 Robin Day Chair for the
restaurant area. A range of bespoke natural solid
oak joinery items, particularly some charming
rectangular benches lends a collaborative feel to
The ƛ nished proMect
reƜ ects our overall vision, with
the key elements being to create
a community, a timeless interior
and also a space that ƛ tted
with the overall vision of
22 Bishopsgate.”