Power Road Studios, Unit G.08

Akoya and Feldberg Capital appointed HOP Works to reimagine a ground floor workspace at Power Road Studios — a former 1930s sewing machine factory now transformed into a thriving creative campus.

With the previous tenant moving out, the brief focused on refreshing and reconfiguring the space to broaden its appeal to future occupiers. The aim was to introduce more natural light, improve functionality, and create a brighter, more welcoming atmosphere, while sensitively retaining key features to support sustainability and manage cost. The result needed to feel contemporary and flexible, yet still rooted in the character and industrial heritage of the building.

To bring the brief to life, we focused first on creating a sense of openness. Several enclosed meeting rooms were removed to release more natural light across the floorplate and make space for additional workstations. This immediately lifted the feel of the workspace and created a clearer, more comfortable flow.

New furniture from OW-N introduced flexibility and ease of use. Softly upholstered breakout pieces, ergonomic seating, and practical desking give people choice in how they work day to day. A palette of gentle greens, warm oranges, and natural neutrals helped soften the industrial backdrop, with subtle styling touches added to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere rather than a purely functional one.

The teapoint was carefully retained to support sustainability and budget, but refined to feel considered and useful. An integrated fridge and updated finishes improved daily usability, while a new breakout nook beside it added a quieter pocket for informal conversations and quick pauses, complete with fabric wall panelling for acoustic comfort.

To balance openness with privacy, we added feature lighting and Crittall-style glazing. These elements preserve transparency and flow while offering acoustic separation where needed. The meeting rooms were reworked rather than rebuilt: introducing soft wall panelling and new furniture to give them a professional, refined character without unnecessary waste. Existing M&E systems were also retained and adapted, supporting efficiency both environmentally and financially.