When designing Zopa’s new 40,000 sq. ft. headquarters in the heart of Canary Wharf, our mission was to translate Zopa’s playful, human-first identity into a working environment that champions inclusivity, accessibility, and collaboration. Spanning multiple floors, this dynamic workplace marks a close collaboration between Thirdway, Canary Wharf Group, and leading digital bank Zopa, exemplifying the balance we bring as a Design & Build partner working on behalf of both landlords and occupiers.

Balancing Focus and Collaboration

With the goal of aligning Zopa’s brand and operational needs with Canary Wharf Group’s asset standards, we created a functional, future-proof space through brand-led furniture, signage, and wayfinding, alongside timeless, high-quality permanent finishes that ensure long-term flexibility.

This alignment was achieved by interpreting Zopa’s playful, human-centred identity into a workspace that champions inclusivity, accessibility, and collaboration for their 750-strong team. Recognising the scale of their workforce, we not only ensured an abundance of meeting spaces but also introduced thoughtfully designed quiet zones to support a variety of work styles. One standout example is the tranquil “Library,” a dedicated area for focused, uninterrupted flow. Here, a warm colour palette and soft furnishings cultivate a calm, inviting atmosphere that enhances concentration and comfort.

In contrast, we also designed multiple collaboration zones seeded throughout the three floors to offer pockets of space for more relaxed working styles. In these areas, the design intent was to create spaces that enhanced creativity, with bold colours and contemporary shapes.

Reinforcing Creation and Confidence

As Zopa’s first office spanning multiple floors, the spatial design needed to embody their culture of transparency and connectivity. To accomplish this, we designed a central interconnecting staircase to achieve cohesion across the 40,000 sq. ft., three-floor layout, which reinforced Zopa’s visual and physical unity throughout the space.

Given its technical complexity, we worked closely with Zopa to reassure them that not only was this the right decision for their business, but that it would also be delivered with confidence. Throughout the process, close collaboration and transparent communication were critical to ensuring that Zopa felt reassured in our commitment to expertly delivering the staircase solution.

While such a feature is uncommon in typical landlord fit-outs, it was integral to our design approach of meeting Zopa’s aspirations while ensuring the solution remained practical for future tenants. This bold intervention and highly technical design choice ultimately provides a practical solution for the occupier while adding value and future-proofing the landlord’s asset.

Designing the ‘Zopa’ Space

In designing this space for Zopa, we thoughtfully blended timeless, heritage-inspired aesthetics with sleek, contemporary touches, celebrating Zopa’s unique identity while embracing the evolving needs of a modern tech hub. Every detail was carefully considered, from elegant finishes and bespoke furnishings to curated brand moments that subtly nod to Zopa’s fintech roots.

Throughout the space, our use of colour and pattern is deliberately bold, not only reflecting Zopa’s distinct brand colours but also the vibrancy of their brand ethos and culture. In implementing Zopa’s signature ‘teal,’ we kept it confined to key client-facing areas, such as the reception and main boardroom, staying true to the brand identity. Throughout the rest of the space, this ‘teal’ is presented in a more subtle way, with a spectrum of lighter teal tints that, while retaining brand recognition, provide a more implied interpretation.

Intending to reflect the brand’s dynamic ethos throughout the space, we interpreted their brand colours with pops of yellow, terracotta, and green in the finishes and furnishings, adding a layer of energy to the space. This is offset with a neutral palette of light oak in both the flooring and joinery, ensuring the bright colours are not overwhelming.

In creating this space for every “Zopian” to truly thrive, we balanced both Zopa’s vision with Canary Wharf Group’s practical requirements, focusing on permanent fixtures like flooring and joinery that will suit future occupiers, while allowing brand-specific touches like furniture, signage, and paint colours to shine.

Meeting Sustainability Criteria

While Zopa wanted their selected building to hold a BREEAM Excellent certification, they did not pursue specific material accreditations for the fit-out. However, with sustainability central to Thirdway’s ethos, all finishes were carefully considered in alignment with the Cat A base design and the building’s BREEAM Outstanding rating. This approach ensured sustainability objectives were met without compromising aesthetic ambition or functional performance.