40 Leadenhall corporate office space The Hoxton, Working From_ Co-working Space 1 Warwick SOHO Members' Club Pan Pacific London Hotel Meeting Rooms Why do book collections matter? Book a consultation with a ~personal curator Contact Quick Links Follow us @ultimatelibrary Join our community
Curating Book Collections for Work Spaces
17 Feb 2025
Since the pandemic, our relationship with the office has fundamentally changed. What began as a necessity—working from home—quickly became the norm, reshaping how we think about productivity, comfort, and work-life balance. The daily commute was replaced with extra moments of rest, and home offices became spaces where family members casually refilled our cups of tea between meetings. According to a 2024 Centre for Cities survey, only 18% of employees now work in the office five days a week, while 12% operate fully remotely.
~In response, "hotelification" has emerged as a defining trend in the corporate world, reimagining office spaces as inviting, design-led environments that blend comfort with functionality. By incorporating elements of hospitality—thoughtful aesthetics, curated experiences, and hotel-like amenities—businesses are enticing employees back, fostering collaboration, and sparking creativity. Here we examine the role that books play in reshaping workspaces though some of our recent projects. ~
One of the City of London's most ambitious new office developments, 40 Leadenhall redefines the modern workplace. It has been designed by Make Architects to house 10,000 occupants with vibrant social spaces to foster connection, and quiet corners for reflection.
The lobby has been transformed into a 'Think Space' with an impressive lending library of 10,000 books, to serve as a catalyst for curiosity and discovery. Curated titles span geopolitics, history, philosophy, design, architecture, travel, sustainability,
smart thinking
, wellness, and astronomy—offering occupants fresh perspectives and intellectual inspiration. Breaking away from the rigid structure of the Dewey Decimal System, the library’s design mirrors the fluidity of a well-loved home bookshelf, where genres blend seamlessly, inviting serendipitous discovery and unexpected connections. An in-house librarian will care for the collection, provide tailored reading recommendations, and host literary events.
The Hoxton Southwark
’s five-floor coworking space, Working From is designed to feel like home, without the distractions. Working with AIME Studios, Ultimate Library curated an inter-disclipinary collection of nearly 2,000 books, as both a professional resource and a cultural touchstone.
Much like the interiors which are imbued with the area’s industrial past, the collection includes books that explore the city’s historic world of work—such as
London's Triumph
and
London: A Social History
—inviting employees to reflect on the legacies of those who came before, the future they are shaping, and the heritage of the locale.~
Found in a stunning six-floor Neo-Baroque mansion in the heart of Soho, Maslow’s
1 Warwick
offers a dynamic mix of beautifully designed workspaces, members' lounges, and event areas.~~For thoughtfully designed meeting rooms, we curated a selection of contemporary fiction, including modern classics like
Norwegian Wood
and
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
, to provide moments of pause and transcendence within the office environment.
Pan Pacific, a luxury hotel in London blends understated luxury with innovation and wellbeing, offering a different side of the city in London’s Square Mile. We were asked to curate books for four meeting rooms, each collection tailored to reflect the character of its surrounding neighbourhood—Brick Lane, Leadenhall Market, and Spitalfields. Each is a reminder to workers of the value in leaving work behind to immerse themselves in the thrumming pulse of London’s historic streets. ~
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We believe in the power of books to create a sense of place and new perspectives. Our bespoke book collections have a great impact on a guest’s overall experience of a hotel or resort. It’s small extras like books in rooms and library spaces that make a guest’s stay extra special, and many of our clients receive high praise for their book collections. For private clients they make a house their home.
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