Sitting between Barbican and Clerkenwell, Beton is a flexible workspace for the creative community

Situated in the heart of London’s design district, Beton, a flexible workspace by Spacemade, joins the company’s extensive offering of spaces. “We loved the building,” says Co-founder Jonny Rosenblatt of the brutalist structure that now houses the workspace. “When we first looked at it, it was the Italia Conti Dance School and was still functioning as such, but they wanted to move location. It’s steeped in history and has been home to some of the greatest British performers and actors of recent years. The building needed a reinvention, and for us, a flexible workspace felt like a natural fit for the building.” Beton’s location, nestled between the inspiration-rich cultural hub Barbican and the design heritage of Clerkenwell – all while being a stone’s throw away from Farringdon and Shoreditch – makes it a magnet for creatives. “We learned from focus group research that in-person collaboration and ideation are of particular importance in the creative industries, with more meaningful and productive interactions leading to better quality of creative output,” Rosenblatt notes. As such, Beton aims to be more than just a workspace. Rather, they liken it to an ecosystem where creative minds come together to ideate and collaborate, with Spacemade acting as the facilitator of these meaningful connections. The amenities and event programming at Beton are also crafted with the creative community in mind. From fully stocked kitchens on each floor, and sound-proof phone booths, to a podcast studio, bike racks, and weekly member events, Beton ensures that its members have everything they need to thrive. And to top it all off, the space is dog-friendly! Beton’s identity, with its strong lines, bold shapes and urban feel, is a reflection of the Barbican’s distinctive brutalist architecture and the creative spirit of the area. This is extended into the physical space, ensuring a cohesive end-to-end brand experience while staying true to the ‘rawness’ of the building – characterised by raw concrete, bold geometric shapes, and exposed structural materials. Working closely with an interior designer, “we incorporated the brand colours into soft furnishings and the brand typography into wayfinding throughout the building,” says Rosenblatt. “We commissioned an artist to paint custom murals inspired by the brand shapes and colours and the Barbican, and created a wall light art for the podcast studio reading ‘Where ideas take shape.’”