Plykea Workshop is a flagship production studio designed by Erbar Mattes for Plykea, a leading manufacturer of custom fronts and worktops for IKEA cabinets. This project involved transforming a vacant commercial unit into a modern facility that combines manufacturing, administration, design spaces, welfare amenities, and a showroom. The production is situated in a lively creative cluster of artists, designers, makers, and innovators within London’s Here East technological campus.

Erbar Mattes’s design transforms the concept of a non-hierarchy working environment into architectural reality. By uniting the staff on a single floor, the studio’s design actively encourages collaboration and nurtures a strong collective identity. The main entrance welcomes both staff and visitors into a naturally lit manufacturing and assembly area, where glimpses into the production process activate the street frontage. A ramp leads to the acoustically sealed studio space, which houses design, administration, and a dedicated product showcase. A unique feature is the repurposed steel lift shaft structure, transformed into a small mezzanine meeting room overlooking the workshop.

The core challenge of achieving visual connectivity while effectively managing manufacturing noise is directly addressed through a strategic selection of top-notch materials. Bespoke partitions with sections of acoustic glazing were employed, spanning the full height of the unit. These partitions, built with open web timber studs, address complex acoustic requirements in a cost-effective manner. Glazed sections encourage interaction between production and front-of-house spaces, while the upper sections, clad in opaque wood wool boards, absorb sound and create a serene environment. A light-colored resin floor unifies the different rooms and allows daylight to enter the space.

Erbar Mattes’ design transforms Plykea’s flagship production studio into a living testament of the company’s core values of craftsmanship and dedication to creating beautiful and practical products.