Wildes Hotel, Chester
Novella, Salford
Domestic & General, Wimbledon
SpaceInvader is a multi-award-winning interior design agency and one of the North of England’s premier consultancies. The company was originally founded in 2009 by Director/Owner John Williams and started life as a commercial sector specialist, working on building refurbishments (Cat A) and fit-out works (Cat B), before developing its offer further into the hotel and hospitality, retail, education and community-based sectors, as well as, more recently, the growing market in PRS residential schemes.
The company’s talented interiors, graphics and CGI team is based in SpaceInvader’s central Manchester studio and is dedicated to exploring design’s potential to enhance people’s lives. The studio’s philosophy is to be adaptable, inclusive and to listen very carefully to client wishes, bringing energy, ideas and commitment to every project, but never imposing a design solution.
When SpaceInvader first started in business in Manchester, there were plenty of architects and contractors working interior design, but the agency was always different, putting interior design at the centre of its offer through high levels of creativity and innovation, backed up by thorough research, adherence to architectural principles / the RIBA process and a fastidious attention to detail. Just as we listen to our clients and want them to thrive, so our internal culture is all about letting talent shine. Our team say they love working for us because they’re listened to and have a voice.
SpaceInvader offers clients a real commercial understanding and is in constant conversation with developers and agents to help maximise value from every square metre of space. SpaceInvader’s work also embodies a commitment to the wellbeing of end-users and the planet via a four-pronged sustainability approach. The first element of these focuses on materials and the supply chain and the second on health and wellbeing, including a strong natural and biophilic approach and a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. The third is a commitment to combatting climate change through minimal energy use and a whole-life-approach, including high-durability levels in all FF&E specifications, low through-life maintenance and the design of furniture and materials for easy reconfiguration and disassembly. Finally, a commitment to ethics and equality means prioritising local suppliers and ensuring a sense of location and locality.
SpaceInvader is run by John Williams, a senior industry figure with decades of experience both working within architects’ practices and through his founding and leadership of SpaceInvader. John’s personable, affable, down-to-earth approach is a cornerstone of the company’s success, as is his great belief in design and what it can achieve. John is also a sought-after speaker and commentator on design and property issues and especially on the changing ways in which we work and play. He has taken part in panel discussions for DARC, DrivenXDesign, Design Insider and Hotel Designs – and has given bespoke presentations for companies such as CBRE and Knight Frank – whilst his authored articles have been published everywhere from Work in Mind, Know Your Money, Be The Business and the Natwest Business Hub to Design Insider, DARC, Designerati and Architecture Magazine.
