Offices are evolving to meet the needs of hybrid working by focusing on flexibility, choice, and employee well-being, with hybrid hospitality playing an increasingly central role in shaping these environments. As home working offers personal comfort and control, office spaces now need to be adaptable, supporting a variety of needs throughout the day. Whether it’s quiet zones for focus or collaborative areas for teamwork, offices need to cater to diverse work styles. Sustainability, inclusivity, and work-life balance are becoming key priorities. By creating spaces that offer personalised choices and foster a sense of purpose and belonging, we’re transforming offices into dynamic environments that employees want to return to—places that support their work and well-being, not just places they have to be!
Lately, I’ve seen ‘hybrid hospitality’ become increasingly important in workplace design – blending office and hospitality elements to create spaces that prioritise comfort, functionality, and engagement. Hotel-style lobbies, lounges, and collaborative areas, once exclusive to hospitality, are now essential in modern office interior design. This approach enhances the workplace experience, encouraging employees to spend more time in the office, boosting productivity and fostering meaningful interactions. At Keppie, we embrace hybrid hospitality in our designs, combining our expertise in both sectors to create flexible, user-centered spaces.
W Hotel Edinburgh
I’m incredibly proud of our project at W Edinburgh. Keppie were responsible for the interior fit-out and technical coordination of all 200 bedrooms, 45 suites, a gym, a luxury spa, and various restaurants and bars. We collaborated with local and international suppliers and subcontractors to ensure everything—from materials to furniture, lighting, and tech—came together seamlessly for an immersive guest experience. Despite facing complex design challenges and tight deadlines, we developed strong working relationships with BAM (Contractor), Nuveen (Developer), Jestico & Whiles (Concept Designer), and other consultants to maintain the highest standards of quality and coordination
The Barclays HQ
The Barclays HQ on the bank of the River Clyde, is a strong example of this approach in practice. Keppie worked as the interior fit out designer of the campus’ main building in collaboration with Gensler. This purpose-built facility spans 22 floors and supports over 3,500 employees, featuring state-of-the-art technology and extensive amenities. Our team played a key role in developing progressive workspace solutions. We included spaces that foster collaboration, creativity, and well-being, such as large scale presentation areas, lounges, bespoke Home Kitchens on every floor, gyms with river views, and wellness amenities like a hair and beauty suite. Public-facing spaces like exhibition areas and flexible retail units further encourage community engagement.
This project aligns with the growing “hybrid hospitality” trend in office design, blending work and leisure. The goal is to create workspaces that feel welcoming, flexible, and engaging—because we all spend too much time at work to not love being there!
Karen’s words were featured in the Spring Edition of Urban Realm‘s profile on Inner Life, looking at how interior spaces are serving a new generation of occupants.