Design brief: integrating planting into an architecturally led workspace

When you round the corner from Farringdon Lane into Clerkenwell Close, you will likely notice a ragged, ivy-covered building. It appears almost abandoned, slotted neatly amongst the tidy Victorian warehouses that line the rest of the street. The stone is rough-hewn, the ivy wild and thick.

As you wander closer, you see lights glowing inside. Moving shadows cross the facade: There is life inside. Stepping towards the ivy-wrapped pillars, you realise this is no dilapidated building, but a work of art. Every carefully carved column, every blank stone face is placed with purpose. Their position reveals perfection; the building is a masterpiece. This masterpiece was conceived of by  Amin Taha of Groupwork; a Berlin native who has designed this building to be both an office, and a home. 

The facade is rough-drilled limestone, covered in the marks and scratches it received when it was first quarried - raw and unfiltered. A folly - a ‘fallen’ piece of limestone with an ionic column partially carved into it - lies near the entrance.

Ducking through stray tendrils of ivy, you enter the darkened entrance via a small pathway set with pebbles. At your feet, skylights from the roof below present you with your first glimpse of what might lay inside this curious space. Looking across the entranceway, you see a glass room suspended on an I-beam and an exposed brick wall wrapped in bright green, unruly vines that stretch toward the ceiling, clawing their way toward the light

Design brief: integrating planting into an architecturally led workspace

The structure of Accrete Capital’s new head office is intrinsically interwoven with nature; our work needed to reflect that.

We knew that it was vital that we allowed the architectural merit of the building to remain the focus of the space: hanging plants that wind themselves around the interior structures, strong, structural plants should mirror the architecture they stood in front of. The planting needed to look as though it had grown into the space, as if it were woven through the very structure of the building itself.

Challenges of biophilic installation in a low-light office environment

The idea of installing interwoven plants that grew out of the spaces the building presented was a wonderful challenge. We had to bring our artistic vision to life, without the luxury of time for the plants to naturally take root. They needed to look like they’d been part of the space for decades, from day one.

But how do you fix plants to walls in a way that feels like they’ve always belonged there?

Adding to the complexity, the building’s winding corridors offered very little natural light. That meant selecting plants specifically suited to low-light conditions, resilient species that could thrive in the shadows.

The challenge was significant, but the result was something even greater.

Now, imagine you’re there with us, stepping into the space for the very first time…

A fully immersive indoor jungle in the heart of London

You step through the entranceway. Tetrastigma voinierianum sprawls across the walls, its jungle vines encasing the space in a lush green lining, beckoning you further in. Scindapsus aureum stands tall between them; vertical sentinels standing tall, bringing strength to the natural structure.

At your feet, the rainforest floor reveals itself: ferns, Aglaonema, and creeping Hoya. Ancient species that transport you to a forest untouched by time.

Striking architectural plants mirror the inspired architecture they inhabit. Dappled light touches their leaves, scattering vivid splashes of brighter greens amongst the darker undertones. Above you, skylights bring sunlight into the space for the canopy to absorb and reflect below. 

For a brief, calming moment, you forget you’re in Clerkenwell. You’re standing in an ancient jungle. A tropical paradise.

Conclusion: nature and architecture intertwined at Accrete Capital HQ

This project was more than a planting scheme, it was a conversation with the building itself.

At Accrete Capital’s new head office, architecture and nature intertwine. Every leaf, vine, and branch was chosen to echo the structure’s raw beauty and quiet strength. The result is a space that doesn’t just house life, it feels alive.

Step inside, and the city fades away. In its place, a world of calm, green intention.