CLIENT
British Land
DESIGN
Woods Bagot
LOCATION
London, UK
COMPLETED
2024
Alma is British Land’s inaugural build-to-rent development — a high-end central London residential scheme comprising 159 apartments, alongside retail, workspace and leisure amenities.
The vision for Alma was to create a vibrant mixed-use development that honours the area’s authenticity and character, while prioritising design excellence and sustainable practices that respect both people and the environment.
We provided a full FF&E service from concept to completion, creating and delivering high-quality, largely bespoke furniture and accessories for the apartments and shared spaces. Each piece was designed to meet the project’s ambitions for functionality, sustainability and a strong sense of place.
This bespoke direction enabled us to develop elements unique to Alma, including two apartment colour palettes shaped around natural light. Together, these choices create interiors that feel grounded in the building’s architecture and the wider environment.
Alma’s amenities are designed to enhance daily life for residents, offering communal spaces for work, relaxation and socialising while fostering a strong sense of community and connection. The co-working areas support modern working patterns, with comfortable, design-led settings including work booths and flexible open-plan zones. For downtime, residents can enjoy the cinema room for movie nights or private screenings, or host guests in the private dining space or on the outdoor terrace, which provides a calm retreat from the city.
Alongside bespoke pieces, the social areas are complemented by carefully sourced products from our network of leading furniture brands, integrating recognisable, design-forward elements that elevate the overall aesthetic.
A central focus of Alma’s design was materiality, with the building’s architecture and context reflected in the interior design, textiles, and furniture, seamlessly integrating into the overall aesthetic. Woods Bagot’s geometric design language and strong emphasis on rich materials, inspired by the building’s unique footprint and history, are evident in the materials, colour palette, and bespoke-commissioned artwork and accessories.
Working closely with Woods Bagot, British Land and Native, our team ensured that the FF&E responded to the character of the Aldgate neighbourhood through a rich, locally inspired palette of materials, colours and textures.
Alma sets a new benchmark for sustainability as the first BTR development to measure and offset the embodied carbon impact of its entire furniture package, with sustainability embedded from the outset. Guided by British Land’s core sustainability priorities of low carbon, environmental performance and human wellbeing, we developed a comprehensive sustainability charter to inform every FF&E decision.
The FF&E package reflects these ambitions through material choices that prioritise environmental performance. Apartment sofas were upholstered in 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, while responsibly sourced timber and low VOC finishes were specified throughout. Beyond materiality, we applied refresh-ready design principles that extend the life of each piece by ensuring it can be easily repaired, updated and maintained.
Our sustainability data cards helped the team assess the impact of each product, and our in-house specialists provided detailed embodied carbon analysis to support transparent, evidence-based decision-making.
To minimise the project’s carbon footprint, we adopted a close-to-home supply chain, sourcing furniture from trusted UK and EU manufacturing partners to ensure both reduced impact and high quality. This local focus also extended to the art, objects and show-flat accessories. Our styling team collaborated with London-based artists and independent makers, supporting local economies and craftspeople while creating spaces that feel authentically connected to the surrounding community.
