CLIENT
Railpen
DESIGN
Hawkins/Brown
LOCATION
Birmingham, UK
COMPLETED
2025
As part of a major regeneration initiative in central Birmingham, Railpen set out to transform two 1960s office buildings into a vibrant mixed-use destination. Led by design practice Hawkins\Brown, with development manager V7, the project reconfigured the ground and lower ground floors to create 15,000 sq ft of flexible, amenity-rich spaces — including open-plan collaborative areas, revitalised entrances, and enhanced receptions.
TFP was appointed to deliver a sustainability-led furniture package, ensuring the design vision was realised while meeting the project’s environmental and social objectives.
High Dowel Table Modular, Very Good & Proper
Custom made with Birch wood table top and powder coated leg and metal frame.
An emphasis on sustainability and user experience was central to Hawkins\Brown’s concept.
As the social heart of the building, the amenity hub offers a variety of settings for connection, collaboration, and recharge. A 100-seat auditorium hosts talks and events, while the café, bar, co-working zones, and shared meeting rooms provide relaxed and adaptable spaces for working and meeting — all complemented by a welcoming business lounge.
A 100-seat auditorium
Inspired by the building’s industrial heritage and Birmingham’s historic weaving industry, the design uses a ‘ribbon’ of colour and texture to connect spaces, expressed through a gradient colour palette, tactile materials, and bespoke textiles.
We worked in close collaboration with Hawkins\Brown to embed these design principles into the furniture specification, ensuring every piece supported the functional and aesthetic vision, and met robust sustainability targets.
An industrial heritage
With sustainability embedded from the outset, we developed a bespoke charter for the project, setting out clear criteria aligned with the design concept and the project’s wider environmental and social goals.
Drawing on our extensive supplier data, we conducted in-depth analysis to identify products that met the project’s sustainability aims and strict compliance requirements.
Key specification criteria and features:
Local sourcing
55% of furniture was sourced from UK suppliers,
exceeding the 40% minimum target.
Recycled materials
A strong focus on products throughout the
interiors incorporating recycled content.
Durability
Long-lasting craftsmanship and extended warranties,
built for heavy daily use and fewer replacements over time.
Circularity
Components designed for easy disassembly at end of life,
making repair, replacement, and responsible recycling simpler.
Key pieces were chosen for their sustainability performance, quality, and ability to complement the interior’s design language.
Furniture selections emphasise durability, visible craftsmanship, and the honest use of materials — predominantly timber, metal, and fabric — expressed through a rich and playful palette.
Pieces from suppliers such as Deadgood, Vitra, Very Good & Proper, Rawside, and Hem were chosen for their sustainability performance, quality, and ability to complement the interior’s design language. Custom flat-woven rugs by Floor Story bring cohesion to the lounge and co-working spaces, creating a layered, tactile experience.
Durability, craftsmanship and recycled materials
Multistory is now a flagship destination for modern work and leisure in Birmingham. The thoughtful design and curated furniture package enhances the user experience across varied spaces — from co-working to hospitality — while delivering tangible results against environmental benchmarks.
WOODY BENCH, DEADGOOD
VIEW DETAILS
Woody Bench
MANUFACTURER
Deadgood
PRODUCTION
Thetford, UK
For the Woody Bench, The Furniture Practice worked with the supplier and manufacturer to tailor both material and finish so it sat naturally within the wider interior palette. Upholstery and timber details were specified to align with the space’s colour, texture and durability requirements, ensuring the piece performed for daily use while maintaining the design intent. This hands-on approach to customisation—refining details, coordinating samples, and managing production—helped deliver a bench that feels considered, integrated, and made specifically for the project.
High impact, low carbon.
In line with Hawkins\Brown’s refurbishment-first approach, we specified UK-made furniture from Thetford to reduce transport impact and support long-life, responsibly made materials.
A playful touch
The refurbishment embraces a light-touch approach, maximising the reuse of existing materials while introducing thoughtful design elements that enhance sustainability. Exposed concrete surfaces celebrate the building’s industrial heritage, complemented by softer materials and innovative textile applications.
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