The Ministry is the first social workspace and members club for creative industries by Ministry of Sound, housed in a former Victorian printworks in Southwark, London. The design sought to create the antithesis to a nightclub environment, with desirable, practical working floors alongside generous social spaces that are as suited to morning coffee and lunch meetings as evening networking and social events.
Combining the creative, social and networking aspects of a members’ club with dynamic workspace for up to 850 people - involved in sectors including music, film, arts, fashion and technology - the aim was not just to offer a place to do business, but to provide an environment for a convivial and creative way of life.
The challenge was to create an aesthetic style for the new brand which was different to the tired clichés of shared workspace and members’ clubs. The Ministry of Sound archives were mined to uncover the building blocks upon which its best work was based, and this was used as a foundation for The Ministry. This led to the concept of ‘Premium Raw’, a stripped-back simplicity with a high-quality finish.
In the design of the spaces, this translated into taking the bold elements of the Victorian factory, exposing its raw fabric, and counterbalancing it with a layer of premium finish: elegant, simple furniture, plush textiles, lighting, artwork and well-considered details. The contrast of these two styles creates a powerful and distinctive aesthetic that is true to the parent brand's heritage but also feels very contemporary.