‘Business spaces for a new era of work’

COMMENT

By Georgia Allenby, design and marketing director at Allenby Commercial

When I started working in commercial property, office design was largely about practicality. A desk, a few meeting rooms, maybe a vending machine if you were lucky.

But the world of work has changed – and our spaces need to change with it.

The days of soulless office blocks and fluorescent lighting are over. Today’s professionals are looking for something very different: places that inspire creativity, foster connection and make the daily routine something to look forward to.

Work is no longer just about where we have to be – it’s about where we want to be.

That idea has driven the creation of Monocle, Allenby Commercial’s latest development in Hull city centre.

For us, Monocle isn’t just another refurbishment project – it’s a response to how modern life and work are evolving.

Before we began designing Monocle, we spent time travelling and exploring some of the innovative business spaces across the world.

What struck us was how the most successful workplaces weren’t defined by their square footage or their high-tech fit-outs, but by their soul. They were places people genuinely wanted to spend time in. They blurred the lines between work and leisure – offering everything from coffee bars to quiet corners, fitness studios to creative hubs.

That sense of belonging and purpose is what we wanted to bring home to Hull.

Monocle – formerly Europa House – has been reimagined from top to bottom.

What was once a mirrored façade, closed to the outside world, is now a light-filled glass front symbolising openness and connection.

Inside, we’ve blended warm 1970s-inspired tones with modern design, creating a space that feels as inviting as it is functional.

There’s a co-working business lounge, private gym, podcast studio, event space and a ground-floor coffee house – Daze – that’s open to everyone, not just tenants.

Daze is already becoming a social hub for Hull’s business community. It’s where people meet to collaborate, brainstorm, or simply unwind over a coffee or cocktail.

We see Monocle as part of a bigger conversation about how cities like Hull can attract and retain talent.

Great workspaces aren’t just good for business – they’re good for people.

When employees feel energised and connected, productivity follows naturally. When businesses are part of a community, not isolated from it, innovation thrives.

The future of commercial property isn’t about rows of identical offices. It’s about creating ecosystems – places where business meets lifestyle, where design meets wellbeing. Spaces that reflect the diversity of how we now live and work: hybrid, flexible and human-centred.

Hull is a city with incredible potential, and developments like Monocle are helping shape that next chapter.

We’re proud to be part of a movement redefining what “going to work” looks and feels like.

Because the truth is, if we want people back in offices, we need to give them something worth coming back for.