Matteo Ferrari Studio: Located on the 9th and 10th floors of the 22 Bishopsgate building in London, the new Hiscox headquarters is conceived as an innovative approach to the corporate environment, challenging traditional conventions by placing art and human interaction at the core of the design process. It celebrates the insurer's heritage, ambition, and love of art, as evidenced by its consistent art collection built up over the decades.
The design vision places artworks at its center, aiming to deliver a disruptive and inspiring space that rethinks its category and challenges expectations. Far from being just an office or a hospitality space, the design aspires to be a physical expression of the insurer’s culture and energy—a monumental and sculptural design that creates an immersive platform for art, designed to be impactful and timeless, free from pretentiousness, always looking towards the future with intelligence and honesty. A piece of art in its whole.
The synergy between art and architecture creates an environment that not only visually stimulates but also seeks to generate meaningful interactions with the occupants. Each piece of art becomes a catalyst for creativity and innovation, turning every corner into a source of inspiration. Commissioned pieces signed by contemporary artists such as James Turrell, along with other iconic pieces by Picasso, Francis Bacon, and Jeff Koons, populate the interior spaces.
Comprising a total surface of 5,450 sqm, a creative team was assembled to design specific areas, all combined into a cohesive vision for the space: London-based Studio Tilt was in charge of the Back of House (BOH) main office and meeting areas, while Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari studio was called upon to shape the experience and atmosphere for the Front of House (FOH), which includes an Art Café, a Gallery, and an Auditorium.
Imagine walking into a brightly lit office space that feels like a breath of fresh air, where the walls come alive with beautiful artwork, and the atmosphere is filled with positivity and well-being. This is the future of office design, and it's not just a pipe dream. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about creating a space that nurtures a sense of community and connection among people.
The new Hiscox Headquarters signifies a new paradigm in the design of a hybrid, creative, multi-team workspace, rooted in fostering brand awareness, strong partnerships and collaborations, and creating a human-centered, inspiring, and welcoming experience.
FRONT OF HOUSE ART GALLERY & COMMON AREAS
The fundamental premise is to transform the common areas into a stage where beauty, functionality, and user experience converge harmoniously. Its silent yet impactful design rises above the city skyline as a declaration of modernity and sophistication. Clean lines, open spaces, and the unique integration of artworks create an ambiance that impresses not only aesthetically but also fosters concentration and productivity.
Upon arrival at the lift lobby, a prominent 10x3m flat screen dropped from the ceiling welcomes visitors with a commissioned art installation by artist Julie Freeman, called 'More Than Us’. “ The artwork reminds us to think in a more-than-human way, emphasizing that even with sophisticated data, chance and randomness will always play a role in our collective fate. Two communities of colorful geometric shapes drawn from Suprematist paintings of the early 1900s move in response to historical and predictive climate catastrophe data sets, built using our real-time business data and data from Hiscox partners RMS and Verisk," said Kylie O’Connor, Communications Director at Hiscox. Far from being a cold, austere, and empty entrance space, the lift lobby gains attention by being human, welcoming, and memorable.
After stepping into the Art Café, a monumental wall welcomes guests as both a functional and statement piece. Bespoke-made on-site by artisans specializing in stone, the wall helps the interior architecture provide a bold separation in the open space, dividing the cafeteria with a stunning view of the City from the meeting room area leading to the back of the house. Made of limestone, the wall conveys a natural presence in the Hiscox office front of the house area. It speaks of the company’s heritage, traditionally related to the world of art, as well as its strong presence in the insurance industry.
The Art Café performs a number of functions vital to Hiscox’s business and relationships with clients, brokers, suppliers, and other guests. This area is used to meet and greet guests, as well as providing a space where guests can relax or work between meetings. There is no traditional reception desk; rather, a concierge or Meet & Greet service where hosts actively receive guests as they arrive, alerted to their imminent arrival by the security system.
At its center, a wood-finished spiral staircase connects the two main floors. Next to it, the Art Café contains a monumental Coffee Counter, designed as a low piece of fixed furniture to enable an impressive view of Saint Paul’s Cathedral from any angle.
HISCOX OFFICES DESIGN
The vision of Oliver Marlow of Studio TILT, the sculptural design of the office connects Hiscox’s colleagues and customers in an intuitive and inclusive way, while creating an immersive platform for the Hiscox art collection. Oliver curated a group of design disciplines across hospitality, workplace, lighting, furniture, finishes and materials to create a special space. Working with these disciplines, and an internal team of Hiscox employees through a ‘Creative Board’, he was able to get under the skin of the Hiscox brand and respond to the brief in a dynamic and innovative way.
This approach brought together Ciszak Dalmas Ferrari, Studio ZNA, Workform and Studio TILT to deliver spaces that showcase the Hiscox art collection while providing an environment where employees and customers alike will want to work, do business, and connect with each other. Set over two floors, the 35,000 sq ft office space hosts employees and guests in a bright and airy environment. The front of house experience comprises the Hiscox Art Cafe, the social heart of the space as well as a gallery and formal meeting rooms which house a newly acquired work from American artist James Turrell, a first for the City of London.
The fluid back of house design encourages movement and curiosity with casual meeting spaces and workstations offering glimpses of activity, places for privacy and a home for inspiring art. The use of natural, and where possible, recycled materials delivers a warmth and comfort that enhances wellbeing and energy.
About Hiscox
Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). Our ambition is to be a respected specialist insurer with a diverse portfolio by product and geography. We believe that building balance between catastrophe-exposed business and less volatile local specialty business gives us opportunities for profitable growth throughout the insurance cycle.
The Hiscox Group employs over 3,000 people in 14 countries, and has customers worldwide. Through the retail businesses in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA, we offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers as well as homeowners. Internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance is underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re & ILS. Our values define our business, with a focus on people, courage, ownership and integrity. We pride ourselves on being true to our word and our award-winning claims service is testament to that.
About Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari
Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari is a multidisciplinary team made up of architects and designers based in Madrid, which is proposed as a tool to innovate, break barriers and create disruptive concepts for small and big-scale firms, materializing ideas to touch, feel and share.
The studio works across a range of disciplines including architecture, interior, product design, and art direction, devising new concepts and services with a holistic and experimental approach, and exploring the interconnections between traditional craftsmanship and new technologies. They have undertaken projects of various nature in collaboration with Aesop, Zara, Balenciaga Museum, Loewe, and Camper among others. Parallel to commercial work, their daily practice focuses on material experimentation and limited edition design. The studio was awarded the First Prize for the “Best Retail Design“ by The New York Times Magazine in 2019 and the “Delta de Oro” for the Ambrosia lamp produced by Marset.
About Oliver Marlow and Studio TILT
Oliver is a multi-platform designer, author and strategist and expert on the transformative relationship between space and creativity. His work integrates space and service, developing spatial and service strategies, and designing creative environments across workplace, education, health and civic spaces. He is a Visiting Professor at Politecnico di Milano and IE School Madrid, Ambassador at Brera Design Week, The Expert Space Design Associate for the International Impact Hub Network, Cofounder and Creative Director at Studio TILT, Cofounder at the Social Workplace Conference and Founder at Oliver Marlow. He is also a Member of the Architecture and Design Urbanism Panel for the Mayor of London.
He is the co-author of Codesigning Space published by Artifice Books, and Spaces For Innovation, published by FRAME, from an original commission by NESTA. He delivers keynotes and workshops at numerous international conferences including Corenet, Worktech, Global Design Forum, Frame Lab and the Creativity World Forum.
