RHWL Interiors' award-winning scheme for P&O's new corporate headquarters is the result of a stimulating and subtle combination of office design, corporate branding and curatorship. P&O have brought together all their head office staff for the first time in 20 years, moving from several scattered locations to a two-storey space in a large modern building, and they have taken the opportunity to redefine their working environment.

P&O — a company with worldwide operations — wanted to convey an impression of modernity and 21st century efficiency but equally it wanted to remind clients and staff of its unique history and 170 year-old heritage. Its important collection of artworks, silverware and model ships has been integrated into its new contemporary open plan spaces, becoming part of the office landscape.

RHWL has paid a great deal of attention to ensuring that all the elements in the new spaces add up to a convincing whole. We approached the design as a series of integrated layers, taking in architectural detailing, furniture design and views across the spaces, as well as functional concerns.