Categories All Calico, the latest Manchester boutique office scheme, has been launched to office agents and is now available for occupation.
The 13,000 sq ft workspace, developed by Bluefig Investments, has suites over seven floors in the heart of Manchester’s business district. The ground floor concierge reception features exposed brick walls, a communal area to greet guests and modern artwork, including a custom welcome desk designed by local artist Liam Hopkins. Spaces available at Calico range from 1,200 sq ft to 12,500 sq ft. A breakout area also features on the fourth floor, leading onto a communal roof top terrace with views across the city centre. Faris Mousa, director at Bluefig Investments, said: “We are very excited to launch Calico, it’s a real gem, a much more authentic workplace in what is considered to be a more traditional and commercial area of the city, so it really stands out.” Andrew Timms, director and head of office agency at Edwards & Co, said: “This is exactly the sort of workspace that businesses are looking for at the moment. As working habits have changed considerably during the pandemic, businesses have been assessing how much space they really need.”
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Categories All Calico, the latest boutique office scheme to hit the Manchester market was launched to Manchester’s office agents this week and is now available for occupation. The 13,000 sq ft beautifully crafted workspace, developed by Bluefig Investments, has suites over seven floors in the heart of Manchester’s business district.
The ground floor concierge reception features exposed brick walls, a communal area to greet guests and modern artwork, including a custom designed welcome desk designed by local artist Liam Hopkins of Lazerian fame. Spaces available at Calico range from 1,200 sq ft to 12,500 sq ft. A breakout area also features on the fourth floor, leading out onto a communal roof top terrace with stunning views across the city centre. Faris Mousa, director at Bluefig Investments, said: “We are very excited to launch Calico, it’s a real gem, a much more authentic workplace in what is considered to be a more traditional and commercial area of the city, so it really stands out. “Our new reception desk proved to be a real talking point at the launch, and I’m not surprised, it was built by robots using 3D printing techniques and it’s a work of art! Like the building, which in the 18th Century was a printing company for the growing textile trade in Manchester, it’s inspired by the past but completely state-of-the-art.” Andrew Timms, director and head of office agency at Edwards & Co, said: “This is exactly the sort of workspace that businesses are looking for at the moment. As working habits have changed considerably during the pandemic, businesses have been assessing how much space they really need. Occupiers will be able to move straight in to a fully fitted workspace at Calico, as all of the suites will be furnished throughout, and Wi-Fi enabled to ensure they can just plug and play. “Each of the floors would be perfect for SMEs looking to take their own self-contained spaces, or equally, the whole building would be suitable for single occupancy by a larger organisation that is looking for a stylish, modern space in a highly central location.” Calico is in an excellent location for commuters and for getting around the city region for meetings, with the Manchester Metrolink on its doorstep and it’s just a short walk to and from Oxford Road and Piccadilly stations. Edwards and Co are sole agents on the Calico scheme. Categories All In a recent blog (Faris Mousa: The Pantheon still amazes nearly 2,000 years on) I said that the Pantheon was such an incredible feat of architecture that I wanted to write about it all by itself. I think it’s worthy of its own post, but that’s not to say it’s the only spectacle worth seeing in Rome. There are many more great buildings, both old and new, and here are a few more that I recommend for any traveller or fan of architecture. Teatro Marcello This theatre was completed in 11BC and is still revered by architecture enthusiasts more than 2,000 years later. Its arches, columns and tunnels were revolutionary at the time, and its ability to comfortably hold an audience of 20,000 was a great showcase of Roman ingenuity. In fact, it was the inspiration for the much better know Colosseum, built around 70 years later. St Peter’s Basilica Rome is home to a great many religiously significant buildings, including an estimated 900 churches. The Vatican’s basilica is the most widely recognised, and it’s easy to see why. It took more than 100 years to build and was completed in 1626. Its design is the work of a string of world renowned architects, including Michelangelo who helped design the iconic dome, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a sculpture who is responsible for much of its decoration. The Supreme Court One of the most important buildings in the country, where the ultimate rule of law is decided, it is also fittingly one of the most imposing and eye catching. The architecture is inspired by late Renaissance and Baroque styles and is so opulent (and took so long to build) that many locals still question how it was funded. But to the casual tourist, it’s an incredible sight. The National Museum of the 21st Century Arts Rome is recognised for its historic architecture but has continued to innovate and modernise. One of the best examples from modern times is Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI museum. Its sharp angles and bold curves, which provide a backdrop for the many contemporary exhibits and events which take place there, stand in stark and exciting contrast to the surrounding ancient buildings. There is plenty more to Rome than fantastic architecture — we haven’t even touched upon the magnificent food, culture or sport — and these four buildings (and the Pantheon, of course) are just a few of the many examples of iconic buildings. But hopefully this will give you enough of a taste to go and explore this beautiful city for yourself. In years past, businesses have used salaries and holiday allocation to attract workers, but in recent times the scope of what it means to be a great employer has grown. One of these trends has been using architecture and interior design to create a fun, productive, and rewarding workplace. (Faris Mousa: Evolving Spaces) Companies such as Google and Facebook have earned a reputation for breaking down barriers of what a workplace can be, and they attract some of the very best talent in their industries. But you don’t have to be a tech titan to create somewhere that your staff are happy to spend time and do their best work.
Here are some key elements that make up a great place to work. You’ll see you can adopt most or all of them within your own company. 1: Fun Whenever a workplace makes headlines or becomes iconic, it’s the fun elements that people notice, such as multi-floor slides or arcade machines. The science behind this shows that employees who have the opportunity to have fun bond better with their colleagues and time away from their desks makes them more creative. If you can’t afford to turn your office into an amusement park, simple options such as a games console or board games make a good starting point. 2: Nature The more access to greenery people have, the happier they generally are. (Faris Mousa: The best things in life are free) If you’re fortunate enough to own a complex in its own grounds, you can take advantage by installing a garden, planting trees, and creating cosy areas with benches and outdoor furniture. If not, you can still liven up your interior with office plants which will improve the atmosphere and reduce stress. 3: Lighting Fluorescent lighting has been an office staple for decades but as technology has advanced its proven to be resource heavy and not all too attractive. Smarter lighting can be more visually appealing, reduce headaches and eyestrain, and lower carbon footprint and energy bills. You can also make the most of your building’s windows to harness natural light, which is the best source of all. 4: Food Kitchens are increasingly popular in the modern workplace. Not just a kettle and a microwave, but somewhere that food can be properly prepared, and consumed in a social setting. This encourages your employees to take sustenance, healthy options and break times seriously. You can even go one step further by providing fruit, snacks and drinks for free. Categories All Bluefig Investments has revealed the first details of its next residential development. The North West property specialist undertakes both commercial and residential work throughout the region. The company’s next project will be Prestbury Place in Cheshire, which will consist of three three-storey townhouses close to the centre of Prestbury village. Work will begin in January 2019, and is expected to conclude in October later that year. The houses will offer the best in open-plan indoor/outdoor living, taking inspiration from European and Scandinavian designs. Faris Mousa, founder of Bluefig Investments, said: “We are excited to start working on this latest project, which will offer beautiful, contemporary living spaces that will create idyllic family homes.
“Our approach to work is to search far and wide for the best materials in order to build homes that people will fall in love with. Our plans for Prestbury Place include some of the finest construction materials and interior design in the industry today.” Faris and his team draw inspiration from around the world for their designs, learning more about construction techniques, quality materials and eye-catching designs through extensive travels to various countries. Faris launched Bluefig Investments after purchasing an office building in Manchester in 2010. Following a substantial regeneration program, his team breathed new life into the building and returned it to its former glory. The building was soon fully occupied and sold, which inspired Faris to undertake many more property projects in the years since. |
AuthorFaris Mousa is an entrepreneur based in Manchester who has worked on many residential and commercial projects. Faris Mousa is Director of Bluefig Investments (UK) Limited. It is a property investment and urban regeneration company. The company was incorporated on 2nd December 2014 and has registered offices located at 260 – 268 Chapel Street, Salford, Manchester, M3 5JZ Archives
July 2023
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