FORBES AND WALKER NAWAM MAWATHA

Ayointerior had the privilege of working with a brand steeped in Ceylon’s history, a brand that goes back to the late 1800. Forbes and Walker, a tea brokerage company originally set up by James Forbes and Chapman Walker and bought over by MJF group in the late 1990’s.

Project scope was to redesign the reception, board room and tea auction room areas. Although, we had to think afresh in terms of the aesthetics we wanted to preserve some of the old world charm. Walls and the ceiling of the boardroom and the tea auction room are decorated with simplified molding details and the floor in this space is local teak laid in a herringbone pattern. The gallery wall consists of plaques of the founders and framed ledger pages dating back to  1881. Boardroom and the tea auction rooms are separated by a sliding/folding partition system which has a unique hand painted water colour artwork which was then transferred to a wall paper. Back drop of the reception counter is adorned with Old ledger books, some dating back to early 1900s and the center consist of the company  logo made of brass and an installation of old tea boxes sits at the top and the bottom.

To incorporate these antique pieces that hold meaning to Forbes and Walker and create a harmonious design was truly a privilege.