In 2016 A&Q Partnership, working under the Four Architecture and Design joint venture, was commissioned by AB-InBev to look at sites in London and Brussels for Brew Pub sites for their Goose Island Brand. Initially sites at the O2 Dome and King’s Cross in London were investigated for a full working brewery and associated restaurants and bars. A smaller site in Balham was identified as a ‘Vintage Ale Bar,’ a showcase for the Goose Island Beer brand. A Listed Building near the Bourse UNESCO World Heritage site in Brussels was chosen to create a Goose Island Bar and Restaurant.

The O2 and Kings Cross sites were discounted due to technical and timing difficulties but work progressed on the design for the Balham and Brussels sites. We worked closely with McKinley-Burkart, the global design consultants for Goose Island based in Canada to develop the schemes in line with the Goose Island Global Brand. The Brussels ‘Montecristo’ project was fairly well advanced before Goose Island withdrew from the project due to lease and planning issues that were proving impossible to resolve in the timescales set by AB-InBev.

Balham however, proceeded apace and with a very tight build programme, our team overcoming many issues to deliver a very well received bar and restaurant in this upcoming area of South London from bare shell to completed project in 8 weeks. The design concept introduces natural materials, brick, timber, leather and ceramics to create an atmospheric and charismatic destination for the Goose Island Brand.

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We are one of two designers employed by YBS Group to work on their branch concept rollout throughout the UK. The group own Yorkshire Building Society, Chelsea Building Society and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, and we have had the opportunity to design layouts for all three types of branches. From acquisitions to small refreshes of an existing branch, we have worked on a wide variety of different buildings, each with their own set of challenges.

As part of our joint venture, Four Architecture & Design, we are engaged by Nationwide Building Society to work with them to implement an exciting new concept in retail banking across their branch network in the UK.

The design creates a customer-focused environment with a completely new look and feel from traditional Banks and Building Societies. The programme is planned to last between 3 and 5 years. Our teams are working with Nationwide alongside their principal partners and stakeholders to finesse the concept whilst applying this to their existing portfolio of branches and new acquisitions.

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As a leading member of HSBC’s Framework Agreement over successive years, the Practice has built up considerable expertise in the application of design solutions to an ever changing banking environment, undertaking a variety of projects across their Retail Network.

Banking retail styles are under almost constant review with the reduction in reliance on cash transactions and other traditional processes, giving way to digital banking.

These images illustrate some of the variety of project sizes and locations over recent years, as well as the many interior styles and facilities.