North East architect takes up unique role at Home Group

A North East architect has joined one of the UK’s largest housing organisations to take up a unique workspace design role.

Nathalie Baxter will implement the design and build of workspaces for Home Group, including its new head office in Newcastle.

Previously at FaulknerBrowns, the young architect has delivered projects across the UK, Europe and south east Asia.

Nathalie becomes Home Group’s first head of workspace and will be responsible for delivering innovative work and collaboration spaces, against the backdrop of the ‘new normal’ office environment.

Kitson Keen, head of built to rent at Home Group, said: “Even before Covid-19, we knew our offices needed to be collaborative spaces not just work environments – spaces not only for our colleagues, but for our customers, the wider community, and commercial partners. Covid-19 has only reinforced that.

“We intend to create environments that promote the wellbeing, productivity and creativity of those who work or gather within them, and that’s where Nathalie comes in.

“We are delighted to have acquired the services of such a talented and highly regarded professional.”

Nathalie, who has studied architecture and interdisciplinary design at Newcastle University, Cambridge University, and the National University of Singapore, will also be responsible for Home Group’s other office environments in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham.

She said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this unique role for Home Group at a time when the context of our workplace is rapidly evolving.

“The new HQ building provides us with a timely opportunity to re-evaluate how and where we work, pushing us to deliver more innovative, collaborative, flexible and sustainable workplace solutions which support us all to thrive.

“The delivery of our new HQ is perfectly programmed to allow us to tailor our physical and digital working environments to the ‘new normal’ as Home Group and the rest of the world progress towards a new era of workplace design.”

Around 700 of Home Group’s 2600-strong workforce will move into the six-storey new head office, designed by Ryder Architecture, which will sit adjacent to the city’s iconic Strawberry pub.

The building programme is expected to support around 400 construction and supply chain jobs, bringing in £24 million per year to the region.