What does it take to create a Work Café?
With its comfortable co-working spaces and meeting rooms, vibrant Noa café, free events space, and accessible banking facilities, the Santander Work Café offers an exciting new venue for all the community.
Armchairs and sofas, generously sized tables that move on castors, and stackable chairs ensure the different zones of the Work Café work together, with a flexible furniture layout that can be changed to accommodate different uses. The exposed brickwork and high arched windows of the 120-year-old building are accentuated by a palette of warm earthy tones and soft greens, while strategically placed lighting and lots of plants create a calm, welcoming environment. It’s a place to grab a bite to eat with a friend or linger with your laptop and a coffee, connect with colleagues via integrated video conferencing technology in the free-to-book meeting rooms, or speak to the Santander International banking team. It’s a place that feels like it has been part of Douglas forever, yet, just a few months ago Market Hall was in the midst of renovations, its transformation nearly two years in the making.
Three of the parties behind the Santander Work Café Isle of Man explain their role in its creation.
The Design Team Santander Design Manager Jose Miguel Perez Tallon, RIBA, Architect ARB, UK,Ruben Sesmero Blanco, Architect ARB, UK, and Silvia Maggini Architect ARB, UK, were the design team behind the Isle of Man Santander Work Café. Silvia Maggini said: “The Isle of Man Work Café is located within a 120-year-old listed building on North Quay, so we wanted to emphasize its natural beauty and be respectful of this important historic market site. Designing a Work Café requires careful consideration of the furniture selection to create an appealing space for customers and staff alike. By prioritizing comfort, style, versatility, functionality, and ambience, the Work Café can become a welcoming environment that encourages productivity,creativity, and community engagement. “Before embarking on furniture selection, we as designers carefully evaluate the available space: we consider factors such as dimensions, natural lighting, and existing infrastructure. Additionally, we consider the use of environmentally friendly or recycled materials and finishes, reflecting Santander’s commitment to environmental sustainability,for example, all the meeting room chairs are made of 100% recycled materials.”
The Furniture Suppliers Style Office worked with the design team to supply furniture. Paul Watson, MD of Style Office, said: “The eclectic design of the Santander Work Café is a great example of a transient multifunctional workspace. People can book a spot to work for a few hours or longer or touch down at any available space, whether that’s a sofa in the lounge area, an armchair, or at a desk. You might get six people from six different professions working individually at the same large table. People can plug into this less formal environment and work in a more creative way. The Work Café provides a place for people to connect for coffee or have a meeting and it’s a very comfortable, ambient space to work. “The industrial theme suits the building’s style and architecture. We worked hard to pull together an eclectic portfolio of products to fulfil the vision of the designers and architects and the result is an environment that is on-trend now and that can adapt as the needs of Work Café customers in the Isle of Man evolve.”
The Project Managers Integral to the team were Santander International’s Project Sponsor, Richard Le Breton and Project Manager, Sarah Hussey alongside Santander UK Construction Project Manager Lee Clarke. Sarah Hussey said: “It was a big team effort from everyone - designers to suppliers,contractors, and the bank, with over 100 people working on the project at different times. Preliminary work started over a year before we began on site. It was a long process, but once we started, construction work only took 16 weeks and was completed in time for the Work Café to open in early May 2023.” Santander International’s Project Sponsor Richard Le Breton had been involved with the Work Café in Jersey so knew what was envisaged. “As a registered building there were restrictions on Market Hall which created certain challenges during the project design, but we worked within these restrictions to enhance the space. The result is something we are all incredibly proud of – a venue that serves all the community, anchoring the heritage of the iconic Victorian Market Hall and Douglas itself to the future of the Isle of Man.”