Real estate agent becomes the architect SHH in the quest for sales growth
London-based architect SHH is the team behind the re-design of the real estate firm Savills' new concept store in Cobham, Surrey.
The brief was to banish the formality of traditional estate agent offices where advisors sit behind desks and to instead create a space where customers and staff could interact in a more casual and spontaneous way. The 152 sq m store also had to portray a mid-market affordable luxury image inline with Savills’ identity re-brand.
SHH started with the customer’s first glimpse of the store – the front window. Traditional housing information cards have been banished in favour of a state-of-the-art projector screen that shows one housing image at a time. This has left the window uncluttered and allows un-obscured sight lines through the store.
A simple dove grey façade and pale yellow canopy set off the halo-illuminated steel 3D Savills’ logo. The fascia is bathed with yellow light at night.
SHH creative director Neil Hogan said: “The logo is very much the hero here and everything else to do with the fascia is relatively muted and quiet, celebrating the bold Savills sign.”
Inside, SHH has created a striking open-plan space, divided only by two yellow glass walls, to allow staff to be more flexible and mobile.
There are exposed brick walls and walnut veneer shelves that house a library of digital photo frames showing current properties.
High tables and stools are positioned around touch-screen computers showing housing and local information. Other table tops feature local maps beneath glass with schools, shops and transport hubs marked on.
Apartments Alchemy Architects Best House Design Cabin Design Furniture Glass House Green House Design Home Plans Home Loan Home Decorator Home Renovation House Appliance House Design Housing Interior Design Luxury Home Mortgage Minimalis House Modern House Modular House Modular Office Natural House Prefab Home Pavillion Property Offers Real Estate Resort House Residential Architects Sustainable House Design Small House Villa
