Commercial head quarters
Architectural joinery in commercial office space – Isle of Man
William Garvey was invited by James Brookman Design to contribute to the transformation of Celtic House, a landmark commercial headquarters for a telecoms provider. The project ran over three years and required an exceptional level of detail, coordination and craftsmanship.
We were appointed to design and make bespoke furniture and architectural joinery elements that would become central to the building’s experience. The interior makes sophisticated use of natural materials to create an environment that is both contemporary and calm.
Fifth-floor bar
A standout feature of the space is the bar in the fifth-floor lounge, crafted from a single Utile tree. The tree was plain sawn lengthwise into eight sections and once sanded, stained and oiled by our team, we reassembled it with recessed lighting between each board. The engineered precision of the brass detailing – suggestive of the steel staples used to limit end splits in sawn boards – is a visual counterpoint to the cracked natural timber, while a soft internal glow reveals the natural beauty of the grain.
The bar serves as a gathering space for events and informal celebrations.
“The Birdcage”
At the heart of the building, a cylindrical rotunda clad in oak rises through four floors. Referred to as “the Birdcage,” this sculptural structure houses a series of flexible spaces, including a ground-floor reception, a coffee station, lounge areas and a financial workspace. The whole team at William Garvey worked across the creation of the oak cladding for the complex curved structure, the internal panelling and circular oak ceilings.
Craft and collaboration
James Brookman Studio were brought onto the project after the original architectural team stepped away. Despite the compressed timeline, every element was meticulously documented and executed, thanks to close collaboration across disciplines. William Garvey’s workshop translated complex concepts into tangible structures with clarity and precision.
Recognition
James Brookman Design entered the project into the BIID Interior Design Awards 2024, and won the Scotland and Northern Ireland Award, and The Interior of the Year Award. BIID judges praised the project for its architectural flow and use of natural light. The “Birdcage” rotunda, in particular, was noted for its sense of openness and cohesion, drawing the eye upwards and anchoring the building with quiet confidence.
