In early 2024 Gort Scott was appointed to design the interior fit-out of The Portman Estate’s new head office as part of their move to One Great Cumberland Place, a 1920s building next to Marble Arch and Hyde Park. The project presented an exciting opportunity for The Portman Estate to reevaluate their working environment to serve the needs of both its people and the organisation, with the aim of fostering interaction and collaboration. From the outset, there was a key focus on wellbeing and environmental performance.

The project was guided and refined through an in-depth engagement strategy involving The Portman Estate staff. This vital initial stage included workshops, surveys, and three days of on-site observation and documentation of the client’s existing workspace and work patterns. Insights from this consultation informed the design by identifying the need for efficient, agile solutions. It also helped prioritise the types and sizes of rooms to be included in the new office space, shaping their layout, functionality, and overall look and feel.

The design for the new office balances openness with functionality by incorporating a variety of spaces, including large meeting rooms and one-person call booths, to accommodate private meetings. The layout preserves expansive views of Hyde Park through careful placement of new rooms and the use of curved corners, which also reference the building’s Art Deco heritage.

At the heart of the office floor plan is ‘Portman Square’, a versatile, café-style workspace designed to be adapted for use as a presentation area for large events. This central space is bounded by generous planting, integrated into the tops of movable storage units. These planters help to divide and screen the area, creating a sense of privacy and connection to nature. A focal tree feature offers a visual link between the natural landscape of Hyde Park and the centre of the office.

Gort Scott was also appointed to undertake the design and specification of loose furniture which required careful research to ensure the selected products met high environmental standards, incorporated effective repair and replacement strategies, and had minimal carbon footprints.