Client British Land
Designer/architect Conran and Partners
Completion tbc
Size tbc
Conran and Partners has curated the interior design and fit-out of a 7m-high lobby and café space at Dock Shed, a six-storey office building part of British Land’s transformative regeneration of Canada Water.
Positioned opposite the Rafter Walk boardwalk and overlooking the wetlands of the Old Surrey Docks, the space is a welcoming environment for office tenants and the wider local community.
The design brief sought a balance between elegance and casual comfort, fusing elements of dock trade and industrial design. This vision is brought to life through raw, handcrafted details – visible bolts, patina finishes, and hand-buffed tables with individual patterns, all celebrating an intentionally unfinished aesthetic.
The design takes cues from the building’s architectural expression – its industrial trusses, gridded structure and dockside heritage – establishing a linear, zoned layout. Rather than imposing divisions, it introduces layered interventions: soft drapery to balance the space’s volume and acoustics, sculptural seating arrangements to encourage different modes of working or resting, and curated zones that shift from open and communal in the central area to intimate and focused on the perimeter.
Banquettes provide a sense of intimacy and separation from the café, while dynamic installations cascading from ceiling to floor subtly define areas. Crafted from natural materials including sisal and cotton in muted tones and designed in collaboration with Art Story, the installations create contrasts and textures and celebrate raw craftsmanship. Just as the building’s structural elements are exposed, the construction, knots and weaves of the ropes are intrinsic to their design.
Continuing the theme of craftmanship, the handcrafted timber bench opposite in the reception area, inspired by a fallen tree, introduces an organic element to the space and complements furniture pieces including Van Rossum’s Adjacencies coffee table, which are balanced by soft seating, including the quilted Puffy Lounge chair by Hem.
The material palette is intentionally restrained, featuring natural finishes, timber, and lush planting, contrasted by bold injections of colour and personality through furniture and accessories, developed in collaboration with Dodds & Shute. Concrete screed flooring adds an industrial edge, complemented by dark timber, deep bronze tones, and woven rattan rugs that introduce warmth and texture. The double-height soft drapery enhances the sense of scale, while architectural details such as a steel staircase and picture-framed windows, curated with collected greenery, further enrich the space.
Simon Kincaid, partner and principal at Conran and Partners, says: ‘What makes Dock Shed truly distinct is its hybrid nature: part lobby, part café, part social hub. The brief demanded a space that adapts to the needs of multiple user types, from tenants and their guests to the local community. We designed a space that would feel intuitive, welcoming and refined, while seamlessly accommodating practical and operational demands.’
