Gastronomica is a cutting-edge food-tech hub at Colworth Science Park in Bedford, UK. Developed by Corstorphine & Wright and Pioneer Group in collaboration with Unilever, the 16,000 sq ft facility offers high-spec laboratory and innovation space to support start-ups and food-innovators shaping the future of food.
Equipped with specialist equipment, shared lab infrastructure, and close links to academic and industry leaders, Gastronomica is set to become a major hub for collaboration, research, and commercial growth in the UK’s thriving agri-food sector.
Reimagining the Science Workspace
We were engaged to provide full consultancy and design support, including workspace planning, product selection, visualisations, and installation. Working closely with Pioneer Group, the brief was to create a space that breaks away from sterile, utilitarian design typically associated with labs and design a welcoming, hospitality-led environment inspired by boutique hotels and the Bedford countryside.
Through site visits, workshops, and showroom tours, we crafted a calm, welcoming interior that balances function and feeling. Inspired by Soho House and countryside retreats, the scheme blends earthy tones, soft textures, and biophilic touches for a grounded, human-centred design.
Designed for People and Purpose
Zoning was fundamental to the project. Alongside laboratory space, the layout includes co-working areas, meeting rooms, an auditorium, reception, café, lounges, and library — each designed to support different modes of work, from focused research to informal collaboration. The result is a flexible, people-first environment that encourages comfort, creativity, and connection.
Furniture That Delivers the Vision
Key pieces included the Lovett Armchair from Soho Home, the Androgyne Lounge Table by Audo Copenhagen with a marble top and walnut frame, and the Panda Sofa from Modus. Meeting rooms are elevated with Arco Kami Oval boardroom tables and &Tradition’s Rely HW55 chairs, upholstered in soft fabrics and warm woods to create a more welcoming, less corporate tone.
These pieces bring a sense of residential luxury into the heart of a science-led workspace anchoring the space in its homely, countryside-inspired aesthetic.
Integrated Design Partnership
What started as a consultancy role evolved into full furniture delivery from lab benches and joinery to artwork, lighting, and final styling. We became embedded in the design and procurement process, acting as a trusted partner from concept through to completion.
Rooted in comfort, flexibility, and purpose, Gastronomica is more than a lab — it’s a space designed to match the ambition of the ideas it was built to nurture. This vision was recently recognised with the ‘Innovative Workplace Design’ award at the 2025 Property Week and Construction News Life Sciences & Research Clusters Conference. Judges praised the project’s hospitality-led approach, seamless integration of sector-specific spaces, and strong sense of purpose — a space designed not just to work, but to inspire.
