A distinctive marble spittoon shaped like a baptismal basin has become the centerpiece of wine merchant Flint's newly renovated headquarters in southeast London. The unique office space, located on Kennington's Stannary Street, was transformed by architecture firm Mowat & Company in collaboration with other local businesses, showcasing a commitment to hyperlocal partnerships.
Flint's headquarters occupies the ground floor of the building, featuring a rear office space for nearly 40 employees and a front tasting room designed for wine presentations and client entertainment. The space hadn't been updated since 2013 when the company decided to undergo a comprehensive renovation. Notably, Flint chose Mowat & Company specifically because the architecture studio is located directly above their offices.
"When we made the decision to stay in Kennington, we went all in," explained Flint managing director Katy Keating. "Not just putting our roots down further here, but also supporting others to do so, too. We're fortunate that this corner of London is home to so much talent." This philosophy of local collaboration extended throughout the entire renovation process.
Mowat & Company completely reconfigured the layout to create designated zones while improving circulation and natural lighting throughout the building. Visitors now enter through a narrow corridor lined with timber and fluted glass, with the tasting room positioned to the right. The space features a sleek oval meeting table and dark wood chairs supplied by Very Good & Proper, a furniture brand headquartered just a 10-minute walk from Flint's location.
The showstopping marble spittoon, carved from red marble sourced from Burgundy, France, serves both functional and symbolic purposes. Burgundy holds special significance as the region where Flint first sourced its wines. The receptacle, used for spitting unwanted wine during tastings, is engraved with the Flint logo and bears a striking resemblance to the massive stone fonts used in baptismal ceremonies. Floor-to-ceiling windows are concealed behind translucent mauve-tinted curtains that complement the marble centerpiece.
Practical design elements throughout the space reflect the wine industry's materials and traditions. The rear office features large workspace tables topped with gray cork, chosen for its affordability, ease of cleaning, and sound-absorbing properties. "Cork comes from a certain type of oak tree, which is essential in wine production, yielding the barrels in which wine is aged and the natural stoppers for the bottles," Keating explained, highlighting the material's connection to winemaking.
The rear office includes an open-plan, timber-clad kitchen and is anchored by the cork-topped tables. Oak cabinetry runs along the full length of one wall, with upper and lower cupboards separated by a back-lit gallery-style display shelf. This distinctive feature houses empty wine bottles collected over decades, positioned in evenly spaced, drilled holes that create an artistic installation celebrating the company's history.
A hidden butler's pantry with temperature-controlled storage was strategically inserted in one corner of the tasting room, maximizing space efficiency while maintaining the area's clean aesthetic. At the back of the office, glass doors open onto a narrow courtyard and garden that was also redesigned as part of the renovation project.
The garden transformation was handled collaboratively by Mowat & Company and Walworth Garden, a community garden center located just minutes from Stannary Street. Previously overgrown with light-seeking climbing plants, the outdoor space was redesigned with a stepped planting scheme to allow more sunlight into the interior offices. The new design incorporates shade-loving native plants that thrive in the London climate.
Keating emphasized the practical benefits of working with local partners, noting how proximity can minimize a project's carbon footprint while providing flexibility for quick solutions. She shared an example of when the base for the tasting room table arrived in the wrong size at the last minute. "Being a Kennington-based business with UK-based craftsmen, Very Good & Proper sorted retooling it over the weekend, and we were able to open on time," she said. "This wouldn't happen in a non-local world."
"Besides wine, our drink is karma," Keating joked, summarizing the company's philosophy of supporting local businesses and craftspeople. The Flint headquarters renovation represents a successful model of hyperlocal collaboration, demonstrating how businesses can create distinctive spaces while strengthening their community connections and reducing environmental impact through reduced transportation and stronger working relationships.
