Castle Terrace

Following the successful rebrand and associated redesign of Quilter’s flagship London headquarters in 2021, the Edinburgh office became one of the final UK locations to complete the nationwide rollout in 2026.

Working closely with Quilter’s Estates team, Form Design Consultants reimagined the outdated workplace into a sophisticated, people-focused environment that balances professionalism, hospitality and wellbeing, while remaining unmistakably 'Quilter'.

The existing office lacked the flexibility and warmth expected from a modern financial services workplace.

Traditional layouts, limited communal areas, poor acoustics and undersized washroom facilities created a disconnected employee and visitor experience.

At the same time, the client wanted the workplace to reflect a broader cultural ambition - to encourage more people to become investors and feel confident discussing their financial future.

This meant their office needed to support transparency from the very first interaction, allowing clients to move naturally through the workspace and experience the organisation’s culture from the outset.

Form Design collaborated closely with Quilter’s Estates Department to understand how employees interacted with the space, and how clients experienced the workplace journey.

The brief centred around three key objectives:

• creating a variety of agile work settings
• improving acoustic privacy and employee wellbeing
• introducing a stronger sense of hospitality and connection

Sustainability also played a major role in the project as Quilter aims to achieve a Gold SKA rating, requiring a comprehensive approach to environmental performance across materials, waste, energy efficiency and reuse.

At the core of the redesign sits a dramatic circular workspace known internally as 'the drum' - a light-filled architectural feature crowned by an oversized glass skylight.

Previously underutilised, this area has been transformed into a vibrant communal hub where staff can meet, work, socialise and dine together throughout the day.

A bespoke curved planter subtly separates the breakout zone from surrounding workstations, introducing biophilic texture whilst improving acoustic comfort and visual privacy.

The client-facing meeting rooms retain a formal, high-end aesthetic, suited to sensitive financial conversations, whilst access to a new roof terrace provides a rare outdoor amenity in central Edinburgh, supporting staff wellbeing and presenting an area for social events and informal gatherings.

The Edinburgh palette introduces subtle soft pink tones into the wider Quilter design language, evolving the brand aesthetic while maintaining continuity with the London headquarters.

Sustainability was integrated throughout the refurbishment strategy.

Existing furniture, including classic Fritz Hansen chairs, was carefully reupholstered and retained, extending the lifespan of key pieces while reducing embodied carbon.

Reused flooring and materials with high recycled content further support the SKA Gold ambition, and align with Form Design Consultants’ wider environmental ethos.

In this high-pressure, professional sector, wellbeing and privacy were fundamental to the design approach.

Workstations were carefully arranged around the central social hub to maximise natural light while allowing future workforce expansion.

Acoustic panelling, strategic partitioning and locker storage were used to minimise sound transfer and create confidential environments for client discussions.

The addition of a dedicated meeting pod introduced an alternative setting for focused conversations and private collaboration.

Throughout the space, planting, soft textures and improved access to daylight create an atmosphere which feels calm, welcoming and distinctly human.

The completed workplace delivers a refined and understated environment which supports both people and performance.

For employees, the office provides greater flexibility, comfort and connection.

For clients, it creates an experience rooted in openness, trust and professionalism from the moment they arrive.

The result is a future-focused workplace that not only reflects Quilter’s evolving brand identity, but also demonstrates how thoughtful commercial interior design can positively shape culture, wellbeing and client experience.