Diageo drinks to Aukett interiors

Aukett has served up a six-figure, brand-centric interiors mix for drinks giant Diageo’s £15m, eight-floor, 14 880m2 offices at Park Royal in London.

Sixteen ‘branded’ meeting rooms – reflecting the breadth of Diageo’s portfolio from Guinness and Smirnoff to Baileys and Gordons – form the centrepiece of the design scheme, along with a 300-person capacity ‘style bar’ used for staff and corporate entertaining (pictured right).

Aukett assistant director Ros Jones, who led the creative team with head of interior design Vivien Fowler, says, ‘We were keen not to use branding per se in designing the rooms. They are identifiable, but not in very obvious ways. The use of materials reflects each brand’s qualities. It’s evocative of the brand, without saying its name.’

‘Special purpose’ rooms have been created including the innovations room, academy room (for staff training) and the Africa room, reflecting the fact the building operates as Diageo’s Great Britain and Africa headquarters. The bar space also acts as a demonstration area to show bar owners how best to display and retail Diageo’s range of products.

Diageo property development manager David Hoy says the interiors will play an important part in staff recruitment.

‘As well as providing a light, modern, airy working environment, we’ve got to attract and retain the best talent we can find, especially since we’re a marketing-led business,’ he explains.

Aukett was appointed to the fit-out brief in March 2000 after a four-way pitch. Architect RHWL has designed the building.