The Old Church School

Shape Studio worked with the team at Forward Space over a number of years to transform a former school into a distinctive co-working hub.

The Grade II Listed building was entirely remodelled and extended to provide 1500m2 of flexible workspace and communal facilities.

Valchromat (wood fibres impregnated with organic colouring agents) was CNC-milled to create slatted panelling that ties together different fit out elements throughout the space.

Built- in furniture is upholstered from a tough textile blend woven from flax based fibre and pure new wool.

Freestanding booths adjoin the conference rooms to offer a soundproof space for private meetings and video calls.
The substantial meeting booth walls demanded custom door hardware; a solid slab of Richlite was turned on the lathe into a pull handle with a locking mechanism which Shape Studio machined from Richlite and stainless steel.

High wear areas such as desktops were lined with naturally pigmented linoleum: a natural surfacing material made from linseed oil and flour.

Working closely with Forward Space, Shape Studio developed four distinct styles of desk to cater for all types of co-worker, from the daily drop in to the dedicated private workspaces.

This project brought together all the skills and services that Shape offer to design, create and deliver an outstanding workspace, a model that has been taken on to all the other projects that Shape have worked with Forward on.