Behind the Art Nouveau facade of a renovated factory dating back to 1898, SBP has created a bright and polished interior for Covus, an Internet company with a growing portfolio of clients.

With a wink at the interior’s history, SBP kept things resolutely modern in the 1,200-square-metre space. An ornate black-steel staircase spirals up to the second level, but once you get there it’s black-and-white minimalism, with black-framed doors leading into various offices and meeting rooms.

On the first floor, on either side of the staircase, a clean-lined kitchenette and a playful dining area speak to the office’s dual nature in another sense. While it’s a high-octane firm, Covus sought to incorporate communal areas where employees can relax or converse with colleagues. The dining nook features capitonné banquettes with a neon-pink stitch and a dramatic, sculpted island; both built-ins are illuminated by white Beat pendants by Tom Dixon.

These casual areas extend to the thematic rooms, which include the “library shack,” accessorized by a traditional wingback chair and wall-mounted white plaster deer heads. In a secondary dining area, a barnboard-clad bar and bench create a rustic counterpoint to the polished feel elsewhere. Like many Internet companies, Covus is trying to create a balance between work and relaxation, and SBP has delivered an interior that exemplifies this duality.