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THISS Studio has completed a reuse-led fit-out for SALT\u2019s new Shoreditch headquarters, turning an industrial shell into a bright, reconfigurable office that doubles as a hireable events and photography venue. The scheme reuses carcasses, furniture and dead-stock textiles, trims cost and waste, and is presented as a practical example of circular interior practice that claims carbon savings over conventional fit-outs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
THISS Studio has completed the interior fit\u2011out of SALT\u2019s new Shoreditch headquarters, delivering a light, adaptable workspace that doubles as a hireable events and photography venue while putting material reuse at the heart of its brief. According to the original report, the studio kept the layout intentionally open to preserve the volume and natural light of the industrial shell, while introducing soft thresholds and practical storage to support everyday working life and occasional public programming. Industry and design outlets covering the scheme have emphasised the project\u2019s low\u2011waste, low\u2011cost approach to fit\u2011out and furniture-making.<\/p>\n
The new HQ occupies a bright, high\u2011ceiling space at the end of a quiet cul\u2011de\u2011sac in a creative complex in east London. THISS\u2019s interventions sought to make the most of existing character \u2014 exposed steel beams and columns and large industrial windows on two elevations \u2014 and to create zones for focused work, meetings and communal lunching without fixed partitions so the plan can easily reconfigure for events. The arrangement responds to the client brief for a welcoming home for the independent communications studio that can be both everyday office and hired venue.<\/p>\n
Material reuse drove both the architectural and joinery decisions. THISS repurposed carcasses from an existing double\u2011run kitchen, relocating half to form rear storage and only adding two new cabinets; old cupboard doors were rehomed online and replaced with chocolate\u2011coloured Valchromat panels finished with raw Osmo oil. The studio also passed the original sink on to a joinery workshop rather than consign it to waste. The practice has described the process as one of adapting the design to what was available, accepting the extra time and patience required when sourcing and working with reclaimed elements.<\/p>\n
Furniture and fittings were likewise salvaged or salvaged\u2011made. The project\u2019s two principal communal tables \u2014 a 3.6m shared desk for up to eight people and a 2.3m meeting\/lunch table \u2014 sit on adapted bases made from retired steel catering tables bought second\u2011hand and shortened, with castors added for mobility. The cork and oak worktops are remnants from previous renovations; this pragmatic reuse both reduced purchase cost and kept material out of landfill. Other reclaimed finds include stainless\u2011steel butcher\u2019s shelves salvaged via online marketplaces and repurposed as bookcases and dividers.<\/p>\n
Textiles and acoustic treatment were handled through a bespoke commission: a large patchwork linen curtain by textile studio Georgia Bosson establishes soft thresholds across the open plan. The curtain is made from end\u2011of\u2011roll linen sourced from an Irish mill, and is hung from the central beam with C\u2011clamps so it can be drawn or removed as needed \u2014 a low\u2011energy, demountable strategy that also improves the room\u2019s acoustic quality. Georgia Bosson\u2019s practice is known for working with dead\u2011stock and end\u2011of\u2011roll materials to produce large\u2011scale, modular textiles that bring warmth and sound\u2011absorbing performance to interiors.<\/p>\n
Steel is used sparingly and with restraint to create visual cohesion: thin steel sheets reinforce kitchen worktops and joinery surfaces, linking to the cut\u2011down steel legs of the tables and the salvaged shelving. The studio stripped back and recoated the columns and beams in a rust tone using sustainable paint, while the timber floors were sanded and sealed with a matt varnish to celebrate the timber\u2019s original character. Multiple design reports noted that these finish choices emphasise tactility and longevity rather than disposable, mass\u2011produced fittings.<\/p>\n
THISS has stated that the fit\u2011out saved carbon compared with a conventional commercial fit\u2011out, a claim they make as part of the project narrative. Technical product choices support the reuse strategy: the coloured\u2011throughout Valchromat panels specified for cupboard fronts are engineered to retain colour after machining and are used in interior cabinetry for their durability and moisture resistance, while Osmo\u2019s Polyx\u00ae\u2011Oil was chosen as a natural\u2011feel, hardwax oil finish for timber surfaces and cork, providing a low\u2011film, maintainable surface. These supplier characteristics, noted by product manufacturers, align with the broader aim of creating a tactile, repairable interior.<\/p>\n
The project underlines both the opportunities and the constraints of reuse\u2011led fit\u2011outs. Design teams and clients who pursue this route often gain character, cost savings and reduced waste, but must accommodate a more contingent procurement process and allow time for sourcing and adaptation. Coverage of the scheme in design media has framed it as a practical example of circular interior practice \u2014 a small, local project that nonetheless demonstrates how thoughtful choices in material sourcing and detailing can reduce environmental impact while producing a warm, flexible workplace.<\/p>\n
For SALT, the move into a space they now own marks more than a change of address: it is a deliberate choice to inhabit an office that exemplifies the studio\u2019s values. The fit\u2011out shows how reclaimed and second\u2011life elements can be combined with modest new interventions to make a space that is at once functional, economical and hospitable \u2014 and that can be reconfigured quickly to host events, shoots and talks without losing the qualities that make it a good day\u2011to\u2011day office.<\/p>\n