Dog Friendly Design at Butternut Box in London

Design firm Thirdway designs for Dogs (and people) to help boost morale and productivity at the London HQ of Butternut Box.

The new London HQ of Butternut Box (a fresh dog food subscription company) has been designed for dogs helping to boost morale, alleviate stress, enhance teamwork, and productivity of the humans who work there. 

Thirdway, a London-based commercial interior design firm, envisioned an office where creativity flourishes, and dogs are celebrated as befits the Butternut Box brand. The ambition of Butternut Box’s leadership was to create ‘the best place you’ve ever worked’ for their people, ensuring that the plethora of dog-friendly design elements enhance rather than compromise their employee experience.

With more and more people in the UK being mandated to return to the office, employers are looking at ways to attract people back into the office, and Butternut Box has really taken this to the next level with this project!  

Recent surveys reveal that 70% of UK employees prefer companies that allow pets, with 8% of workplaces already adopting pet-friendly policies. This trend is not just about cuddles; it’s proven that having pets in the office boosts morale and productivity. As younger generations prioritise pet-friendly environments, businesses are taking notice, with 5% introducing such policies in just the past few years. 

In response to this, Butternut Box, with the creative vision of Thirdway, has created one of the UK’s most dog friendly offices. Inspired by the joyful experience of taking a dog for a walk in the park, the office has dog-friendly design features such as the Park Events Hub, an area that encourages social interaction and collaboration among employees and their pets, helping to foster a sense of community. At its heart is ‘The Stick’, a circular seating area adorned with a suspended stick surrounded by a lush canopy of foliage. Elsewhere, there are conveniently located lead hooks under desks, and integrated dog spaces for bowls and beds. 

Project Planning

Dogs are at the heart of the Butternut Box brand, and are part of every decision the company makes. Naturally then the brief from the top was to create a modern, functional, yet fun space that made dogs the heroes, and celebrated their connection with their humans. 

The Founders were involved in the appointment of Thirdway and present at the pitch stage. Butternut Box’s Creative Director was hugely influential in shaping the project; Christie has an incredibly clear vision for the brand and we worked closely with her to distill the brand essence into a high-end, sophisticated space. Several other stakeholders in the business were involved including the office manager, customer love director, and employees who own dogs. 

There was also a strong desire to create a space that people who worked for Butternut Box would love and feel at home in. The brand is playful and vibrant, so the design had to reflect this. The project intent was to pair a deeply human playfulness with elevated, premium design, which is where Thirdway’s expertise came in. 

Change Management-wise, a few times during the project, the team presented updates to the wider workforce. Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design process, resulting in an environmentally conscious workspace that wholly aligns with the company’s values.

Project Details

The office is created with humans in mind while incorporating features for our four-legged companions, ensuring a comfortable experience for all:

The most unique feature of the space is the Park Events Hub, an area that encourages social interaction and collaboration among employees and their pets, helping to foster a sense of community. At its heart is ‘The Stick’, a circular seating area adorned with a suspended stick surrounded by a lush canopy of foliage.

In addition to this the dog-friendly design elements are: 

• Acoustic Glass: To maintain a peaceful working environment, acoustic glass minimises noise interference, allowing meetings to remain distraction-free.
• Ergonomic and Organic Design Elements: The space features curves and natural finishes that mimic the organic flow of a park, integrating ergonomic design principles.
• Obscured Glass Partitions: Meeting rooms feature lower glass sections that prevent dogs from seeing one another, reducing potential distractions.
• Lead Hooks: Convenient hooks beneath desks enable dog owners to seamlessly bring their pets to work, enhancing the experience without disrupting the office dynamic.
• Integrated Dog Spaces: The design includes dedicated dog-friendly areas, such as spots for dog bowls and resting places for dog beds, ensuring that furry friends feel at home.

Alongside these dog-friendly design features and spaces, it was important also to bring the Butternut Box brand to life in the space. With a playful and vibrant brand, the palette choices had to reflect this whilst translating them to a more sophisticated execution through Thirdway’s vision. Butternut Box’s yellow was given a softer tone in the features throughout. The checkerboard tiling in the kitchen refers back to Butternut Box’s stacked brand boxes. Its cardboard box became warm wood tones and panelling across the walls and other colours like its bold red became rusty velvet seating.

Overall Project Results

Lovely anecdotal feedback from the Butternut Box team during several post-completion visits. The team absolutely loves the space and feel like it truly reflects their culture and ambitions as a brand.

Design

Abi Munslow, Director

Dilara Balci, Design

Andreia Araujo, furniture

Caitlin Westgate, brand

Tom Gale, Commercial

Photography

Peter Ghobrial / Oscar J Ryan

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