Sweet interiors for Lindt & Sprungli by Rowland

Lindt & Sprungli, the European chocolate manufacturer, will unveil the first phase of work on the conversion and interior design of its London headquarters, created by Rowland Design, by the spring.

The consultancy, which began work on-site just before Christmas, is converting what was once warehouse space into office space, and redesigning existing office space. It means that the approximate ratio of 70:30 of warehouse space to office space will be reversed.

The first phase of the project is budgeted at around £180 000 and the consultancy will receive 12.5 per cent of that as its fee. ‘We have not budgeted the second phase yet, but it could be the same,’ says Rowland Design managing director Chris Rowland.

The second phase, to be completed ‘during the course of this year’, will see the remainder of the three-storey building near Heathrow, including the ground floor and reception areas, redesigned.

The consultancy is ‘branding’ the building to incorporate both the values and the vision of the manufacturer.

‘There are two different perceptions of Lindt,’ Rowland comments. ‘One is that it is traditional, even slightly old-fashioned. The other is that it is a hi-tech, stylish, almost clinical brand.

‘We will zap the space up, incorporating the brand values into the interiors through standard images, as well as subliminal images. The idea is to achieve a balance between the two perceptions.’

The consultancy was appointed to the project in November 2001, having presented proposals against an unnamed consultancy.