Gilbanks - St Michael's, UK

Located within the prestigious “talk of the town” St Michael’s Manchester development, Gilbanks is a high-end commercial office space with a quiet confidence elevated by light.

A new, audacious breed of serviced office provider with a growing portfolio – this location extends across 34,000 sq ft! Ekho Studio have created a design that is grown-up and assured. Often referred to as being akin to a boutique 5* hotel or classy law firm, this scheme quietly tests the notion of what a serviced office should look like and how it should operate.

The space consists of over 50 individual private offices, along with a reception and welcome area, quiet rooms, Zoom rooms, break-out spaces, a contemplation room, club lounges with kitchens and a series of meeting and board rooms, with all facilities usable by all Gilbanks tenants.

From the outset, a key ambition for the scheme was to move away from conventional lighting strategies and introduce a softer, more ambient environment that supports all-day use. The intention was to create a space that felt comfortable, welcoming, and visually rich without dependence on harsh downlighting or overly uniform illumination. This approach was particularly important given the limited availability of natural light, requiring the artificial lighting to work harder to establish a sense of openness and wellbeing.

At the heart of the design are three bespoke, semi-recessed aluminium halo luminaires, each measuring six metres in diameter. These features form both a visual and functional anchor to the space. Concealed high-output LEDs trace the curves of both the inner framework and outer coffer resulting in an evenly balanced light that avoids glare while providing sufficient brightness, allowing the space to feel open and expansive. This effect is especially apparent upon arrival, as visitors pass through the double-height doors and progress along the entrance ‘catwalk’, where the space opens out revealing the main reception beyond.

Designed in collaboration between Ekho Studio and Artin Light, the lighting works in harmony with a sophisticated and tactile material palette. Brushed aluminium fittings are strategically incorporated throughout the scheme, enhancing reflectance and subtly amplifying the ambient light. These elements contribute to a layered visual experience, ensuring the space remains dynamic without becoming visually overwhelming. A deliberate focus was placed on vertical illumination, challenging the conventional office norm of prioritising horizontal light levels alone.

Large-scale painted canvases act as both artistic and architectural features, with colour and texture accentuated through dedicated picture lighting with high colour rendering. Beyond the artwork, walls and other vertical surfaces are selectively highlighted, adding depth, rhythm, and visual interest throughout the interior.

This holistic approach to lighting helps establish a boutique, hospitality-led atmosphere that redefines expectations of the modern workplace. By prioritising comfort, materiality, and spatial experience, the lighting scheme supports both functionality, productivity and emotional engagement. The result is an environment that feels calm yet sophisticated, contemporary yet timeless — demonstrating how considered lighting design can transform a space and elevate the everyday experience of its users.