Human-Centric Workplace Design for The ABI

The ABI’s New London Headquarters: A Connected Workplace for People and Members

London EC3 / Insurance / 13,700 sq ft / 13 weeks

Pushing the boundaries of traditional design

High on the 14th floor, the ABI’s new workplace enjoys uninterrupted views across the City of London, taking in some of the capital’s most recognisable landmarks. Filled with natural daylight, the space feels closely connected to the city, yet it is within the interior that the most meaningful transformation occurs.

We pushed the boundaries of a typical workplace to bring together the ABI’s people, members and visitors, creating a space designed around everyday connection. The new headquarters unites everyone on one cohesive level, supporting diverse working styles without the need for physical barriers.

Defining space without walls

With everyone brought together on a single floor, the challenge was to retain visual openness while introducing the functional variety the ABI needed. Rather than relying on cellular division, the design uses subtle spatial cues, expressed through materials, geometry and lighting, to define boundaries without walls.

“What made this project especially enjoyable was the ABI’s collaborative approach throughout the process,” explains Semra Ekinci, the project’s Creative Lead.

“They were open to our ideas and suggestions, which allowed us to push creative boundaries and explore concepts through a mix of sketches, mood images and visuals. That openness gave us the confidence to go beyond a linear plan, introducing angles and curves that create stronger visual connections across the floor.”

Semra Ekinci

Creative Lead at Oktra

Where focus meets flow

To guide movement and create a clear sense of flow, the spatial strategy unfolds across a two-wing layout. One wing is dedicated to focused work, where quiet areas, meeting rooms and perching spaces sit alongside natural light. As you move through the floor, the atmosphere gradually shifts, opening out into the members’ lounge and hospitality suites. At the centre, a generous breakout space brings the two together, forming the social heart of the floor and encouraging everyday interaction. While the workplace remains entirely open plan, the careful sequencing of spaces creates moments of privacy where needed, without compromising sightlines or access to natural light.

Designed for inclusion, comfort and choice

Throughout the day, the workplace shifts to support different ways of working, meeting and hosting. Event areas can open up and merge with the members’ lounge for larger gatherings, while meeting rooms are designed with consistent ceiling grids, lighting and integrated AV to allow intuitive transitions as spaces expand or divide. Acoustic control and soft flooring ensure the environment performs just as well for focused work as it does for live events.

Quieter moments are equally considered, with a dedicated library and wellness room offering space to step away. Positioned alongside gender-neutral toilets, these spaces embed comfort and inclusivity across the floor. The podcast studio adds another layer of adaptability, with configurable branding and an adjoining editing space that supports both the ABI’s ambitions and the evolving needs of its members.

Showcasing the ABI’s legacy

The arrival experience is anchored by the ABI’s reinterpreted “Badges of Honour” installation, a striking cultural feature that celebrates the organisation’s legacy from the moment visitors step inside. Carefully positioned to filter light and provide privacy without closing off the space, it connects past and present while establishing a strong sense of identity from the outset.

Beyond this feature, the space unfolds as a more informal, hospitality-led experience. The traditional reception desk has been replaced with a bar-style welcome point that invites people to pause, meet and connect. Open and approachable, it sets a people-centric tone, signalling a workplace designed to prioritise interaction, ease and everyday connection over hierarchy.

Timeless architectural language

The architectural palette is intentionally calm and neutral, built around warm timber and soft grey tones that create a professional and welcoming backdrop. This considered foundation supports a long-lasting aesthetic, ensuring the workplace remains relevant over time.

All materials and furnishings were selected to meet SKA accreditation standards and sourced from suppliers with verifiable environmental credentials. Alongside the use of modular furniture and a build-off-core strategy, the workplace is designed to minimise future waste and adapt efficiently as the ABI’s needs continue to change.

Subtle brand expression

The ABI’s brand refresh prompted a careful and thoughtful interpretation of their identity within the space. Instead of applying the brand literally, the design introduces it through curated accents, lighting details, and selective furniture pieces.

Subtle hints of the ABI’s purple, yellow, and teal appear through finishes and artwork, complemented by bespoke patterns in selected meeting rooms and a feature LED ceiling that can shift to purple or yellow. These touches ensure the brand is visible and recognisable without overwhelming the environment, allowing it to remain refined and enduring.

A collaborative process

Shaped through a genuine partnership between Oktra and the ABI, this workplace is the result of a collaborative process rooted in people, culture and purpose. Since completion, the new headquarters has already begun to make a tangible difference, with employees spending more time in the office, reconnecting with one another and collaborating in refreshing ways.

Insurance Firms – Workplace Strategy & Design Guide

Insurance firms are navigating increased regulatory demands, evolving ways of working and growing competition for talent, all while managing cost efficiency and operational resilience. A well-considered workplace strategy can help insurers adapt to change, support collaboration and performance, and create environments that reflect trust, professionalism and innovation.
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The ABI’s New London Headquarters: A Connected Workplace for People and Members