In all its buildings, Derwent London commissions artists as well as architects and other professionals, in order to make unique and stimulating working environments.
‘The Art of the Angel’
Derwent London, Deutsche Bank’s collection consists of more than 50,000 pieces. UBS owns 35,000. Dutch bank ING houses 22,500, and JP Morgan Chase stores more than 30,000. By comparison, Paris’ Louvre, the most famous museum in the world, has 35,000 works.
‘Cultural Assets: Banks Stock Up on Art’, Time Magazine
The use of art in the lobbies of the office buildings is well established, as a means of decorating space and creating stimulating environments for employees. But art also plays an important role in influencing the way the office is perceived. The carefully selected art on the walls of the reception – implies sophistication, sensitivity
and taste – raising the brand of the corporate machine beyond.
Our proposal extrapolates the tendency for office buildings to display art to ‘confer respectability
and respect’ and tackles the lack of affordable studio space in Central London. We propose a ‘Res-eption’ – where an artist in residence is housed in the office reception. Here the previously sterile lobby becomes animated by
the presence and creative works of the artist.