Resonate Interiors was appointed to undertake the architecture, design and PDBR for Tradestars, a co-working space which offers flexible workspaces, warehouses and studios in Islington. Tasked with transforming a tired 1980’s warehouse, Resonate’s brief was to create an entrepreneurial hub for start-ups and incubator businesses in a co-warehousing environment. The space needed to accommodate a diverse range of industries with different requirements, from tattoo studios, barbers, podcasts to rug companies, Resonate’s focus was on creating a unique collaborative space that brought together the different businesses creating a community feeling in the workplace. The overall layout ensures that businesses, whether small or large, can operate efficiently while enjoying a collaborative environment.

In addition to the private offices and workspaces, the shared spaces include a café, two pod cast rooms, tea points on every floor, and new toilet and shower facilities. To encourage collaboration and focused work, each floor features quiet booths in the corridors, and a large event space was integrated to accommodate networking and community. A spacious logistics area ensures easy operations for businesses requiring storage and distribution.

Resonate pushed the boundaries of the brief in both spatial design and branding. A dramatic, feature is the suspended ‘pod’ located within the building’s central hub. Designed as a ‘floating’ podcast studio it was created by cutting a 3.5m X 3.5m void in the first floor and suspending half a recycled shipping container within it directly above the café space. Floating within the double height space it provides an open feeling and adds an industrial touch that reflects the buildings warehouse origins.

Throughout the interior, branding and attention to detail was woven into every aspect of the project, from the outside facade, steel frame doors and toilets on each floor painted in the four Tradestars brand colours. A particular attention to detail in branding was evident through the electrical tray. Black powder-coated electrical trays, an essential component of the building, were customised with an embossed Tradestar logo, further linking the company branding and values throughout the building.

To echo the sense of community and give a unique element to the space, local artists created murals and graphics across the whole building, this includes the staircases, walls and elevators.

The outside facade was integral to the design story and needed to create a strong street presence, enabling it to stand out within its tree-lined residential setting. This was achieved by updating the original blue and orange cladding with black mesh and coloured steelwork, giving a fresh and contemporary feel to the exterior. The colour palette was purposefully selected to align with Tradestar’s company colours, pastel blue, yellow, pink and green.

Echoed through all of Resonate’s projects are its seven principles of sustainable design and construction, involving the building materials used, indoor air quality, waste reduction, water conservation, longevity and durability, energy efficiency and sustainable design methods – all key elements to ensure the highest level of sustainability. These can be seen through several key initiatives throughout the project, notably keeping the integrity of the original building instead of demolishing and rebuilding, Resonate focused on preserving the existing structure of the warehouse. There were also elements within the building which were reused, including the staircasing and finishes. By repurposing existing structural elements, the project minimises waste and reduces the need for new materials. The existing windows were retained while re-cladding the facade, this approach not only reduces material consumption but also enhances the building’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, improving energy efficiency without unnecessary replacement.