PROJECT INFO
Completion Date: 2021
Location: London
Project Type: Corporate Workplace – VIP Team Suite
Scope of Work: Crux Design Studio was appointed to collaborate with Nomura’s internal architect and property team to design a prestigious VIP suite for one of the bank’s highest-performing teams. The project required a sensitive and detail-oriented approach that aligned with Nomura’s refined corporate aesthetic and was delivered through a Stage 3 design pack for handover to a designated design and build partner.
Nomura
Tasked with developing a tailored workplace for one of Nomura’s most successful internal teams, this project focused on creating a sophisticated, high-performance environment that matched the team’s status within the organization. The design needed to balance traditional financial sector expectations with the prestige and discretion associated with a VIP client-facing team. Crux worked closely with Nomura’s in-house architectural team and property management group, ensuring that the solution reflected the institution’s exacting standards while remaining within the commercial constraints set by the delivery partner.
Design Concept
The vision was to create a bespoke and discreet environment that subtly conveyed prestige through materiality, proportions, and functionality. Detailing played a key role in communicating the sense of value and tradition that underpins Nomura’s brand. Using refined finishes, controlled lighting, and a layout designed to maximize privacy and efficiency, Crux established an executive-grade workspace that emphasized both performance and prestige. The design intent also included carefully considered bespoke joinery, acoustic solutions, and hospitality-style client zones.
Challenges & Solutions
One of the core challenges was navigating a complex stakeholder environment—aligning the expectations of the VIP team, internal architects, property teams, and the cost-focused design and build contractor. Crux ensured buy-in from all parties through multiple collaborative design reviews and careful documentation of the agreed details in the Stage 3 package. However, despite these efforts, several key design details were altered or lost during the construction phase due to limitations in contractor-led delivery. Crux’s team fielded frequent calls post-handover to clarify and troubleshoot issues.
This experience underscored a critical lesson: the value of consistent design oversight through the construction process. When a project demands nuance and precision, a client’s priorities can be compromised if no one safeguards design intent during delivery.
Final Outcome
While the final space maintained the basic structure of the original concept, several design compromises during construction diluted the quality and impact intended in the initial design. Crux’s involvement post-handover helped the client partially recover and clarify some of the original ambitions. The project ultimately reinforced the importance of retaining a design guardian during delivery phases, especially in high-stakes workplace environments where brand experience and team status are central.
Key Features
- Executive Team Focus – Custom design for a high-performing internal team.
- Collaborative Design Process – Integrated closely with Nomura’s internal architect and property teams.
- Stage 3 Delivery – Comprehensive design pack for D&B contractor implementation.
- Prestige Through Detail – Focus on material quality, proportion, and bespoke detailing.
- Acoustic & Privacy Strategy – Workplace tailored for confidentiality and high performance.
- Design Intent Dilution – Loss of detail during contractor-led delivery highlighted the need for project oversight.
- Post-Handover Support – Crux remained engaged to help Nomura recover aspects of the original vision.
- Key Learning – Importance of continuous design representation during delivery for high-touch environments.
