KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
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World-class base for a business with world-class ambitions...
A £19 million investment in a stunning new UK headquarters, incorporating one of Europe's largest bathroom showrooms, has been designed with flair, imagination and the capability to accommodate future growth. This marks yet another stage in the success story of Bathroom Brands and Crosswater Holdings.
Lake View House was formally opened on Wednesday by Lord St John of Bletso, the Hereditary British Peer. The opening marked the start of a day of celebration for employees and their families, suppliers, customers and the press.
Lake View House is a totally new building, custom-designed to meet the Group's precise specifications. Set overlooking beautiful protected wetlands and lakes, the building features a distinctive internal bridge. The bridge runs the full width of the structure and is designed to allow teams from Crosswater and Bathroom Brands to seamlessly link in a creative environment.
All 200 employees will be able to work together in a facility that combines efficiency with delightful working conditions that include a cafe with an elevated covered outdoor dining area, areas for relaxation, a games room, a playfully themed chill-out room called 'the Man Cave' and much more!
Designed by Threefold Architects, Lake View House is situated within The Bridge Business Park in Dartford and is conveniently located at the centre of air, road and rail links, opening up products from Crosswater and Bathroom Brands to a growing international customer base.
Truly a world-class building, Lake View House is eco-friendly with an impressive EPC A rating. The total floor area is 129,000sq.ft and as well as working space and an astonishing and inspirational gallery showroom, the building includes a 95,000sq. ft. warehouse that can hold 5,000 different product lines and which has 2,500 picking points.
Amazingly, the project was completed in just eight months.
Within the building there is a 10,000sq.ft gallery showroom, where customers can see and touch products. This is not just any showroom; it is one of the largest in Europe, occupying a space as striking as the north gallery of Westminster Abbey. Architects Coppin Dockray designed and created a gallery inspired space that fascinates with products shown in 32 beautifully decorated lifestyle settings.
There is a 'decompression chamber' before visitors enter - followed by a stunning movement-activated rainfall shower display. Over 5,800 hand blown golden glass baubles suspended at different heights add a touch of magic.
Each display has been created to allow for multiple changes - essential to ensure new products are seen as soon as possible. The ambience is one of luxury, quality and innovation. Craftsmen from fields as diverse as boat building, lighting design and jewellery added their expertise, making the showroom unique within the European bathroom industry.
The new showroom will be available to retailers, architects, specifiers and designers. "People from within the industry and from the design community will be astonished!" said Bathroom Brands CEO Patrick Riley. "This is a true landmark within the bathroom industry. We are enormously proud of what has been achieved. This fantastic new facility which brings our staff together under one roof allows us to offer our customers an unbeatable level of support that is genuinely unparalleled."
E: [email protected]
W: www.bathroombrands.com
28th November 2014