Nineteen Wells Street | SODA

SODA Studio has unveiled the transformation of two key floors at Nineteen Wells Street. Set within a 1929 Art Deco building in the heart of Fitzrovia, this new workspace for Great Portland Estates celebrates craftsmanship, hospitality-led design and the rich history of the area.

Though the building retains a strikingly beautiful façade (an RIBA award-winner in its day), SODA inherited an interior that had been completely stripped back. This blank canvas became an opportunity to reimagine the Art Deco principles, weaving together the client’s values, the building’s architectural heritage and the distinctive character of Fitzrovia itself. 

The design approach responds to the client brief, which was focused on creating a welcoming, timeless and considered space with unexpected moments. Across both floors, SODA blended residential and hospitality influences to create spaces that feel inviting and crafted to endure. This sense of welcome is visible even from the street, with large ground-floor windows that reveal a soft, glowing interior more reminiscent of a café or bar than a traditional office.

The ground floor is split between amenity spaces on the right – accessible to all building occupiers – and dedicated workspace on the left. Generous floor-to-ceiling heights are anchored by a monumental bookcase that emanates a sense of grandeur on arrival. The bookcase visually spans both levels, acting as a sculptural point of continuity.

Materially, SODA drew inspiration from Fitzrovia’s 18th- and 19th-century heritage, when leather workers, wallpaper manufacturers and a coffee-house culture defined the area. These influences informed a palette built around warm, neutral tones that have been layered with bold Art Deco accents.

At the centre of the floor, a raspberry red spiral staircase twists upward with sculptural presence. Its rich colouring reappears discreetly across metalwork and detailing throughout the scheme, reinforcing a cohesive visual narrative. Workspace teapoints are framed by Crittall-inspired glazed partitions, while the floor tiling is laid in a tumbling dice pattern, which is also used for the timber floor in the lower ground-floor amenity space. This is a deliberate reference to the patterns and geometric shapes found within typical Art Deco interiors.

Descending the feature staircase leads to a darker, more atmospheric level. Here, reduced natural light enabled SODA to intensify tone and texture, creating a snug that feels more intimate and lends itself to focused collaboration. The palette is richer and moodier, expressed in deep green tones. Newly introduced lightwells and paving lights bring soft daylight into the heart of the plan, balancing richness with a sense of calm. 

Giant existing columns are bridged by an expansive stone worktop, forming a communal anchor point. Adjacent to this sits a refined board room illuminated by one of the glazed lightwells, with a striking centerpiece that takes the form of a deep-red table that runs the full length of the space.

Two bespoke rugs were created for the key spaces at Wells Street, one elevating the ground floor amenity space, the other defining the more atmospheric boardroom on the lower ground; both pieces intrinsically respond to the interior scheme. The rugs are designed by SODA and manufactured by Floor Story. In the entrance lounge, the rug reflects the lightness of the space while subtly grounding the furniture pieces, with a colour palette drawing directly from the interior scheme that balances contrast and softness. The geometric language, echoed by light touch graphics and wayfinding throughout, references the building’s Art Deco heritage, with linear rhythms gently disrupted by a pattern inspired by the sculptural spiral staircase that leads to the lower level. Below, the second rug provides a soft and minimal backdrop for the boardroom’s burgundy table. Designed to complement rather than compete, it combines elongated curved lines that mirror the shape of the table above.

SODA Lead architect Mel Athanasiou said:

“Throughout the project, we worked hand-in-hand with GPE to embrace the defining spirit of Art Deco, which includes strong lines, bold gestures and expressive forms, while ensuring the overall language remains timeless. A neutral backdrop is offset by saturated accents and sculptural moments. Hand-crafted joinery and bespoke detailing root the design firmly in the tradition of London craftsmanship.The result is a workplace deeply connected to its context: past and present, building and neighbourhood, elegance and ease. A landmark reborn with a contemporary edge, yet unmistakably Fitzrovian.”