Porto Rocha

Newington Green, London N1

Materials: Solid cherry timber & veneer

Design: East JR x Porto Rocha
Photography: Christian Cassiel

Establishing growth as a business is no small thing. To set up a second outpost in another continent entirely requires even further commitment, reinvention, and laying down roots. For Porto Rocha, the global strategy and design agency, this Newington Green office site marks their expansion into Europe, and an opportunity for us to work with forerunners in the field of taste.

Material uniformity, and clean, clear lines were the initial tenets of design for the project. The client’s commitment to in-person working, in a post-pandemic world, provided a clear starting jumping point for a collaborative design.

This is the contemporary office reimagined; with greater focus on gathering, spaciousness, whilst maintaining separate areas for focused, individual work.

Used for the first time as a workspace, the building required extensive soundproofing. Over three months, we installed a meeting room, two large conjoining desks, connecting panelled areas and a separate office.

Keeping material uniformity allowed us to focus on grain structure, and balance the cosier, mid-century look with a sharper, 90s aesthetic. Working fastidiously, an exacting, enduring design came together, one befitting the powerhouse agency, and upholding our commitment to sustainable, singular design.