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Heineken

When Heineken needed a new London office that captured the spirit of their brand and inspired their people, they turned to Claremont to bring that vision to life. The brief called for a space rich in storytelling, rooted in their Amsterdam heritage, and designed to spark energy and pride across the team.
Sector Food & Beverages
Size (sq ft) 20,000
Location London

The big idea

Having successfully completed the full design and build of their UK head office in Edinburgh, Heineken were keen for Claremont to carry out the transformation of their London office. Relocating just next door to their previous space gave Heineken a blank canvas to reimagine the space and bring it in line with the look and feel of the Edinburgh office.

Much like the Edinburgh space, Heineken were looking for a design that told the story of their brand and paid homage to their Amsterdam roots, while also offering a functional environment that would appeal to their team and get them excited about being in the office.

Nailing the brief

Heineken invited a number of our team to Amsterdam, offering us the opportunity to enjoy the Heineken Experience and explore their head office. They were keen for us to fully understand their brand story and heritage, allowing our design to draw inspiration from their Dutch origins and ensure continuity between the London and Edinburgh offices, and the rest of their global office portfolio. This visit provided much of the inspiration for the design, offering an in depth look at the operations and processes that have made Heineken the brand they are today.

The social area serves as the central hub of the office, designed to bring people together and showcase Heineken as a brand. Featuring a fully equipped bar with thousands of bottles hanging from the ceiling, the space is ideal for everything from casual team wind-downs to large company-wide gatherings. It also offers a warm welcome to visitors, helping them feel right at home. A standout feature is the striking wall of 5,000 Heineken bottles, illuminated by a large LED screen that creates a vibrant and memorable backdrop.

Creating a space that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing was central to the client’s design brief. To maximise operational efficiency, the layout incorporates neighbourhoods throughout an open-plan office, tailored to reflect the different working patterns of Heineken’s teams. The design also celebrates the Heineken brand, with meeting rooms named after its iconic products and brand memorabilia displayed throughout the space. Two quieter teapoints, located away from the main bar area, were included to offer employees a more relaxed environment to unwind.

Heineken’s brief also emphasised the need for the space to be a tool for them to welcome clients and help them understand the business and their processes. The creation of a cellar that perfectly mirrors real-world conditions was a big part of this. The cellar allows Heineken to give prospective brands and clients a glimpse into the brewing process and offers an immersive, hands-on experience for visitors. The London office also includes a mock stall wall that allows Heineken to demonstrate how products appear on shelves.

The design thoughtfully incorporates diversity and inclusion at every stage. Teapoints have been installed at accessible heights to support wheelchair users, and all pods across the space are step-free to ensure easy access for everyone. Clear wayfinding helps users navigate the environment with confidence, while acoustic panelling has been added to reduce noise and create a more comfortable setting for neurodiverse colleagues.

The end result

Completed over a 16-week programme, Claremont undertook the full design and build of the space as well as bespoke furniture and AV installation, and M&E works.

The final result is a future-flexible Destination Office that strikes the perfect balance between a visually stunning, brand-rich environment and a highly functional setting designed to elevate Heineken’s business operations.

Destination Office

Explore our ‘Future Flexible’ concept

Download our essential guide to the Destination office, for a full understanding of how the Destination Office came to be, why we need one and who it’s for

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