A finance company is experiencing a very modern take on living above the shop after appointing architects and workplace design experts Space Solutions to solve an unusual relocation problem.

Aberdeen based Celurca Investments Limited took over an impressive B-listed townhouse in the West End of Aberdeen to create an imposing new head office – but with the added feature of a built-in luxury flat for its visiting executive staff.

The result is a traditional office on the ground floor that is in keeping with the grandeur of the building with a boutique-style, self-contained two bedroom apartment on the upper floor.

The project means that not only do Celurca executives no longer have to endure spending time in soul-less hotel bedrooms, but they can react to any out of hours business issues at a moment’s notice.

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Aberdeen-based Space Solutions began work on the £500,000 refurbishment of the three storey property – a former domestic house belonging to the National Trust for Scotland – in Rubislaw Terrace in 2008.

Space Solutions were able to bring multiple capabilities to the task – from design and architectural expertise to project management, professional services and CDM skills – which helped in every area, from the refurbishment of the property to converting the rear garden into car parking.

Associate Interior Designer Stephen Griffiths said the contract was one of the more interesting projects that Space Solutions had worked on – and was not without its challenges.

He said: "Effectively, this was two specific projects in one. We had to create a high quality, traditional yet well-equipped modern office on the ground floor – without ruining in any way the look of what is a magnificent building.

"But as the client represents a US-based private equity firm, and had grown weary of finding quality, and available, hotel accommodation, we were also tasked to create a self-contained apartment on the upper floor.

"As well as creating an extremely comfortable executive flat which is a real home-from-home, the accommodation means that the company’s executives never need worry about getting into the office to, say, handle a phone call from a client in a different time zone."

Mr Griffiths said while their workstations are only literally a few feet away, the apartment has also been designed to allow the executives to switch off and enjoy some down-time away from the office.

(GK/KMcA)