How great places and workplaces are designed

Few figures have had as much influence on London’s built environment as Sir Stuart Lipton. In a recent conversation with our UK&I President George Roberts, he reflected on what makes places work and why offices still need to be designed around people, life and activity.

What makes a successful place? 

We are all human. We like people and interesting places. Place is about comfort, physical stimulation, mental stimulation, surprise, sometimes even shock. If you go into a great place, you feel something. But above all, places are about humanity. How do we treat each other? How do we look after each other? Place is really people.

How did that thinking shape Stockley Park and Chiswick Park?

Stockley park was a new experience. We knew the business park was a coming idea, so we went to the USA, to the Research Triangle Raleigh Durham, Stanford and a number of other places to see where we could learn.

Stanford was probably the most influential because it had not only office buildings, but also terrific landscape and a university environment where people and ideas came together.

Our site at Stockley was 400 acres with half of it used as a refuse dump. I think the land cost about £6 million, but the remediation was very significant. The question was: how could we turn a refuse site into a great place? Over 12 months, what seems impossible now, we built a vision: a great landscape, lakes, good buildings, a strong arrival and proper amenities. The landscape was central to the project success.

Chiswick Park came from learning what Stockley had taught us. At Stockley, the car parks were in front of and behind the buildings. At Chiswick, the idea was very simple: do not show any cars. We put the cars at the rear of the buildings and made the arrival about the park, the lake, the buildings and the people. It became a project about “Enjoy Work”.

What did 22 Bishopsgate teach you?

A lot of people talk to tenants about specification: ceiling height, air conditioning load, lighting load, floor load but not about people. With 22 Bishopsgate, we were absolutely driven by people. What do tenants want? What do people want when they come into a building?

At Chiswick Park, we knew people wanted activities, convenience and places to meet. At 22 Bishopsgate, we could not have a village green, so we created a vertical village: food, innovation, fitness, wellbeing, social space and technology.

Technology was there to facilitate the building. If the building recognises you, it helps you get to the right floor, knows how many people are inside and adjusts the energy load. The message is still the same: friendly, warm, interesting. Listen to the customer. 

How should offices evolve from here?

When you walk into a hotel, you feel the pulse of the hotel. Why should an office lobby be any different? Why can’t I co-work in this space? Why can’t I have a drink, meet people, talk to clients? A lobby should demonstrate the culture of the building: is it friendly, warm, helpful?

Life has changed post-Covid, but we still like each other and we want to talk to each other. Offices need much livelier spaces. They need coffee, activity, events, maybe a comedian, a magician, an artist, something that gives people a reason to gather. People make places.

Great places are shaped by great ideas. We'll continue bringing you insights from the people whose experience, vision and thinking have helped shape the built environment.