Kensington’s new flagship leisure centre opened in March 2015 following a 3-year building plan. As part of the Phase 2 development, Space created the cafeteria design and completed the on-site installation. As well as the servery counters and the kitchen, Space designed the layout and supplied the bespoke leisure furniture and bench seating, also providing an interior template for the GLL brand to use across its sites.
On the Kensington Leisure Centre project Space have created a cafeteria design that uses a modern colour scheme for the leisure furniture incorporating and complementing GLL’s brand colours, this gives a vibrant feel to the cafeteria design. This combined with the use of different types of seating including banquette seating, upholstered bench seating and separate tables and chairs and an informal breakout area makes the space very bright, airy and versatile.
Space is always looking for ways to improve its service and performance for its clients. In the case of the Kensington Leisure Centre project this meant sourcing hardwearing fabrics to upholster the various types of leisure furniture. What they came up with was a hardwearing Faux leather that was specifically designed to suit the leisure environment, enabling Space to deliver a much longer-life seating, adding value for the client.
Another consideration in a new building such as this, with its concrete and steel construction, is the acoustics. Sounds can easily bounce around in a dining area, not giving the customers the best experience. Space overcame this problem by using wood finishes wherever possible in the cafeteria design, leisure furniture and front of the servery counter, not only softening the environment but making the acoustics much more pleasurable for the customer.
Along with banquette seating, bench seating and separate tables and chairs Space provided for the interior cafeteria design, they also supplied pedestal tables with outdoor armchairs for the alfresco dining area.
Space are proud to say that they definitely left this project FIT for purpose.
SCOPE
Space Group’s design consultancy team were asked to help Charterhouse through the RIBA stages to design a new dining hall for their 800 pupils and staff. Most importantly, the new design was not only to improve the eating experience of pupils and staff, but to also create a large central facility to cater for functions.
OVERVIEW
Our dedicated design consultancy team created two mirrored servery areas to cope with the tight timescales. Providing layout plans, function plans, detailed services drawings, full interior design specification and visualisations to ensure that the design was suitable for the multi-purpose space.
Although we separate design consultancy from our supply and install side of the business, on this occasion Charterhouse appointed us as their nominated supplier. This meaning, we not only designed the project, going through the RIBA process, but we also supplied and installed the equipment, counters and 600 covers.
Overall, this project perfectly demonstrates Space Group’s full range of capabilities from design consultancy, contract furniture to bespoke fabrication and installation. Creating an improved dining experience as well as a fully operational function room for events.
To find out more about Space Group’s full service design, equipment and interior developments, get in touch. Call 01452 383000 or email mail@spacegroupuk.com
Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Sidcup, Kent