Universal Music Recordings
Office renovation within Universal Music Group HQ.
Universal Music Recordings commissioned Beasley Dickson Architects to redesign their London office as part of a rebrand from Universal Music Catalogue. The project sought to give the space a bold new identity that reflects the label’s evolving vision; as a unifying umbrella for numerous independent record labels, each with its own distinct voice. Located within Universal Music Group’s headquarters at 4 Pancras Square, the renovation redefines the workplace as a vibrant, creative environment that supports collaboration while expressing the culture and diversity of the artists it represents.
The brief was to create a flexible, collaborative workplace that reflected a post-Covid shift in working culture; fewer desks, more communal interaction; and most importantly to express Universal Music Recordings’ new identity in a way that felt strong yet artist-neutral. A refined layout that balances open-plan and enclosed zones was introduced, with areas for informal meetings, quiet work, and social gatherings.
The design channels the warmth of a domestic living room, integrating wall space for art and soft, tactile materials to create a welcoming, layered environment. Bespoke ash joinery defines the main social spaces, including individual work stations, café seating, record storage with turntables, and a drinks cabinet. A palette of grounded earth tones was selected, with each meeting room uniquely color-coded, to create a sense of place whilst supporting different modes of use, from a music ‘listening room’ to a quiet ‘whispering room.’
Working with graphic designer Rich Andrews and rug company Floor Story to design a custom entrance piece using UMR’s new logo. The textile cascades from wall to floor evoking the collaborative spirit of the music industry. Fabricated by hand in Nepal using varied knots and textures, the rug is both artwork and welcome mat, setting the tone on arrival.
Working with textile artist Crimson Rose, a series of diaphanous curtains were incorporated to divide the open-plan layout. Rose’s abstract comb paintings resembling the ephemeral nature of sound were digitally translated into the curtain fabric resulting in a poetic, immersive environment that changes throughout the day as light filters through the artwork.
