Discover the full story behind this project by exploring our detailed case study. From the initial concept to the final outcome, learn how we tackled challenges, delivered solutions, and achieved outstanding results.
The Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Laverstoke, Hampshire, were looking to upgrade the existing office furniture in their process control room. After visiting the Thinking Space website, Thinking Space were tasked with designing and manufacturing two control desks for two operators each, a media wall with storage and extra storage units. Find out more by reading our Case Study Process Control Room Furniture for Bombay Sapphire.
Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin which was first launched in 1987, and belongs to the Bacardi brand. In 2011, manufacturing moved to a new facility at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, UK. This involved redevelopment of a 300 year old paper mill, which has over 1000 years of history with a conservation area as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Thomas Heatherwick was tasked with designing the redevelopment. Of particular note are the two spectacular 15 metre high curved glass houses, which are inspired by the glasshouses at Kew and Crystal Palace. At the distillery itself, 2.4 million cases are produced each year, with capacity for an extra million. As well as the distillery, a visitor centre was created which was opened in 2013 and now provides tours of the distillery and grounds, in what’s described as “the Self-Discovery Experience”. The process control room is where the monitoring of manufacturing and equipment is undertaken, using state-of-the-art sustainable distilling processes.
After visiting the Thinking Space website and making an enquiry, Thinking Space were tasked with providing proposals to provide control room desks to suit the layout of the room, and utilise the space more efficiently. The existing control room, which overlooks the manufacturing area, was a challenging space to fill, with simple office furniture in place which was not ergonomic or effective. With windows, doors, and surface-mounted equipment to contend with, Thinking Space provided drawings, including 3D renders to visualise how the furniture would fit within the room.
Two desks were manufactured, both to accommodate 2 operators at a time. One of the consoles neatly fits into the reveal of a large window overlooking the distillery plant, whilst the other facing into the room affords a curved end panel with the Bombay Sapphire logo displayed. A two by two configuration media wall with cupboard storage underneath is located along the length of one wall, with extra storage required, a tall tambour door unit neatly fits aside a full length window. Finally, having provided 24/7 furniture to suit ergonomic standards, new 24/7 Mesh Ergohuman chairs were provided.
