CobaltA flexible workplace for small businesses looking for a more professional and considered alternative to traditional serviced offices
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Category
Interior Design
Location
Wales
Type
Commercial, Workplace Strategy
Cobalt was conceived as both a home for the founders’ accounting practice and a flexible workplace for small businesses looking for a more professional and considered alternative to traditional serviced offices. Crux was appointed to shape a workplace strategy and interior environment that balanced commercial ambition with experience, positioning the building as a place where small businesses could work, host, and grow with confidence.
The project brought together three distinct but connected uses within a compact footprint. A members lounge and meeting environment at ground level, a dedicated accounting practice, and flexible leased offices across the floors above.
Cobalt was created in response to a clear gap in the local market. At the time, flexible workspace options in Wales were largely limited to traditional serviced offices, with no equivalent to the more design led coworking models emerging elsewhere in the UK. The founders saw an opportunity to introduce a more refined offer, rooted in local ownership and tailored to the needs of Welsh small businesses.
The ambition was twofold. To create a credible, professional home for the founders’ accounting practice and to attract small businesses of fewer than twelve people who could benefit from both the workspace and the services offered within the building. This required an environment that felt elevated and trustworthy, without the anonymity or informality often associated with coworking.
“Proof that flexible workspaces can still feel personal, polished, and beautifully put together.”
— Heather Saunders, Founder | Principle
Key Features
Founder led workplace strategy combining private practice, members club, and leased offices
First of its kind flexible workplace offer within the local Welsh market
Clear hierarchy of access supporting privacy, discretion, and exclusivity
Maximised floorplates with integrated meeting, collaboration, and pause spaces
Members lounge introduced as a cultural and commercial anchor with strong early uptake
Elevated shared spaces paired with efficient and attractive leased offices
Crux approached the project as a workplace strategy exercise rather than a fit out brief. The starting point was how the building needed to perform commercially and behaviourally within a limited footprint.
Most of the available area needed to remain leasable office space, so planning efficiency was critical. At the same time, the workplace needed moments that encouraged interaction, supported informal conversations, and provided flexibility beyond the private offices. This led to a layered approach, integrating meeting rooms, phone booths, tea points, and pause spaces on every floor so collaboration could happen naturally without compromising focus.
The members lounge was developed as a distinct experience within the building, designed to support hosting, informal meetings, and relationship building. Its immediate uptake following launch reinforced the value of this strategy and its contribution to the overall offer.
“We didn’t just design a flexible workspace, we designed the next step for small business growth.”
— Heather Saunders, Founder | Principle
Privacy and access were treated as strategic tools. A controlled front staircase established a clear threshold between public and private areas, while access control ensured separation between the accounting practice, the members lounge, and the leased offices above. Visibility was carefully balanced with restriction, reinforcing value while maintaining discretion.
Crux also established a clear hierarchy of investment. The accounting practice was given a complementary but distinct identity so it felt anchored and permanent. The members lounge was designed to feel special and generous, offering choice and comfort. Shared areas were elevated to raise overall perception of quality, while leased offices adopted a more budget conscious but sophisticated approach to support efficient leasing and long term durability.
The completed workplace delivers a flexible but confident environment that supports focus, discretion, and interaction in equal measure. Small businesses benefit from private, professional offices alongside access to shared spaces that allow them to host clients and collaborate without overcommitting on space.
From a commercial perspective, the clarity of the offer and the quality of the environment supported strong early leasing interest. Offices were taken up quickly following launch, validating the strategy and demonstrating how thoughtful workplace planning can directly support revenue generation and reduce void periods.
Cobalt has established itself as a credible and desirable option for small businesses looking to step into a more professional working environment.
This project demonstrates Crux’s ability to connect workplace strategy with commercial performance. By shaping the space around how the building needed to operate as a business, we helped create an environment that was attractive to tenants, easy to let, and positioned for long term success.
The earlier Crux is involved in a project, the greater the positive impact we can have on workplace strategy, planning decisions, and financial outcomes. Early engagement allows space mix, access strategy, and investment hierarchy to be aligned from the outset, supporting faster leasing, stronger occupancy, and more resilient returns.
At Crux, success is measured not only by how a space looks, but by how effectively it performs for the business that owns and operates it.