Lighting that defines first impressions while setting tone, mood & spatial rhythm
Reception areas, lobbies and shared arrival spaces do more than direct people — they set expectations. They’re where architecture, identity and experience converge. At 18 Degrees, we design welcome space lighting that communicates clearly, supports flow and enhances the visual and emotional impact of the first interaction with a building.
WELCOME SPACES
From soaring atria to discreet reception desks, welcome spaces demand thoughtful lighting that feels intentional, integrated and immediate. These are transitional zones but they’re also moments of pause, greeting and wayfinding.
R7 King's Cross
Client — Related Argent
Collaborators — Morris+Company
Location — King’s Cross, London
Status — Completed 2017
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
Collaborators — Morris+Company
Location — King’s Cross, London
Status — Completed 2017
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
R7 is a landmark development in London’s King’s Cross, designed to offer more than just workspace. Alongside ten floors of office space, R7 features shared areas to encourage collaboration and a sense of community. The building is also home to several hospitality venues including a cinema, restaurant and several retail units.
The lighting design for key public-facing areas encompasses a dramatic seven-metre-high entrance lobby, hospitality interfaces and an expansive communal roof terrace. Creating a versatile, visually engaging environment and inviting experience for diverse visitors, the layered lighting strategy responds to the architectural rhythm of the space and shifting atmosphere as day transitions into night.
Author King’s Cross
Client — Related Argent
Collaborators — Conran and Partners
Location — King’s Cross, London
Status — Completed 2023
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
Collaborators — Conran and Partners
Location — King’s Cross, London
Status — Completed 2023
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
Situated in heart of London’s King’s Cross, Author is a premium Build-to-Rent development by Related Argent, featuring interiors by Conran and Partners. Author’s community atmosphere is vibrant and inclusive with a rotating programme of arts and culture events. Alongside, residents can connect within dynamic co-working spaces and lounges or host gatherings in the screening room and private dining area.
The meticulously crafted lighting design is consistently applied across all public areas, including the reception, meeting spaces, screening room and circulation areas. Thoughtful layered lighting, curated luminaires and bespoke detailing bring texture and warmth, enhancing spatial hierarchy and offering a sense of domesticity within a high-density setting. The result is lighting that echoes Author’s personality: comfortable, contemporary, and deeply considered.
freshfields hq
Client — Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Collaborators — ID:SR, Gardiner & Theobald, Mix, TB+A
Location — 100 Bishopsgate, London
Status — Completed 2021
Certifications — BREEAM Excellent, SKA Gold
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
Collaborators — ID:SR, Gardiner & Theobald, Mix, TB+A
Location — 100 Bishopsgate, London
Status — Completed 2021
Certifications — BREEAM Excellent, SKA Gold
Image Credits — © Tom Lee
Global law firm Freshfields’ new headquarters embodies a sustainable, people-focused workplace. In collaboration with ID:SR, we designed an adaptable lighting scheme that balances performance, comfort and wellbeing across twelve floors. Dynamic, circadian-supportive lighting responds to daylight and activity, enriching focus and collaboration across client and staff areas.
Smart controls, sensors and responsive dimming enable seamless adjustment to hybrid work patterns while cutting energy use by 30%. The result — a flexible, efficient environment recognised with BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold ratings, where light enhances both human experience and environmental performance.
Why us?
First-impression focus — Lighting that communicates identity and quality
Client-aligned — Systems that reflect spatial and operational intent
Visually intuitive — Clarity and contrast that support movement and flow
Collaboratively tested — Physical mock-ups and modelling to de-risk decisions
Sustainability ready — Energy-efficient systems with WELL and BREEAM in mind
Residential
Lighting that brings comfort, identity and precision to living spaces
Landscape
Exterior lighting that balances safety, atmosphere and visual continuity with the built form
