Image Credit : Alberto Strada
Project Overview
For many years, Pernod Ricard has made “creators of conviviality” its vision and signature. As part of this, creating a glamourous, welcoming reception space was vital to promote interaction and increase happiness amongst colleagues in their new Milan office.
To give the space a local look and feel, we introduced the concept of piazza into our design, next to the bar area. Throughout Italy, la piazza is the typical place where Italians gather to socialise, share stories and deepen relationships. Pernod Ricard loved this concept, and we situated their own version of la piazza in the heart of the workplace as a people-centric space to connect, dine and mimic the same buzz found in towns and city centres.
The result is a truly fabulous workplace that oozes Italian glamour and reflects Pernod Ricard’s core values and people. Their new workplace is an exquisite representation of Italian conviviality. Its showstopping reception area and bar creates a wow factor for anyone who visits their space.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Designer: Elena Caregnato, Leonardo Caliandro, Alice Bassi
Tech Design: Riccardo Colli Franzone, Marco Moscone
PM: Marco Francalanci
Delivery: Klaus Zoia
Project Brief
With more colleagues adopting a hybrid way of working as part of their regular routine, Pernod Ricard’s previous office was no longer optimised for their people. The company decided to move to a more central location and invest in a brand-reflective workspace, reception and lounge bar to better service their teams.
There were four key design pillars that needed to be represented in the new space:
• Roots and heritage: Reflect the Italian lifestyle, its origins and characteristics.
• Spirit of conviviality: Increase relations through diverse, interactive environments.
• Product highlights: Enhance the brands in an innovative way.
• Green touch: Prioritise environmental sustainability and wellbeing.
Split into three sections, Pernod Ricard’s new vastly sustainable workplace consisted of a welcoming reception area, a fully equipped professional bar, working lounge and integrated workplace. Their new office symbolised Italian quality and creativity that shared a unique and welcoming experience.
Achieving each of their key design pillars, the Italian roots and heritage were portrayed through the local materials used and creating la piazza for all colleagues to draw into and connect. The spirit of conviviality was represented through the stunning bar area and collaboration spaces in the work area. Products and Pernod Ricard’s iconic brand were celebrated throughout the reception space and bar lounge area with proud displays for all to see. Finally, there were green touches with bursts of biophilia, outdoor terraces and stunning views of Bosco degli Alberi.
Project Need
Pernod Ricard is famed for turning social interactions into a shared, genuine and friendly experience, with their iconic products including Absolut, Jameson and Perrier-Jouet. Their products look to create joyful moments and memorable experiences for people from all walks of life.
We wanted to celebrate their brands and products, displaying them throughout the workplace in an innovative manner. Above the reception space, we installed a suspended brass shelf to display various bottled products as a great first impression when visitors enter the space. The bar area is also used as a proud display of their bottled products, elegantly mixed with brass bar tools and potted greenery that suspends over the shelving, that act as a backdrop to barmen serving drinks to visitors and colleagues.
The concept behind the bar was to reflect the vibe of a 1920s speakeasy; a tribute to great Italian drinks and the glamour of Milan where fashion and fabulous design meets.
As Italian conviviality always tells stories of excellent food, amazing drinks, chic aesthetics, friendship and joy, we incorporated this buzzing vibe into every aspect of the workplace to reflect Pernod Ricard at its core.
The architectural elements in the lounge area, such as arches as a wall feature, Mediterranean wallpapers, herringbone flooring and ceramics resembled Italian maiolica. The idea was to replicate the concept of la piazza, found throughout Italy’s towns and cities, in the main lounge as a buzzing environment that exudes Italian style for people to live and enjoy.
Design Challenge
Previously located in a suburban area, far from the vibrant city centre, Pernod Ricard’s previous office wasn’t optimised for their people’s needs. The old office was split between two floors, creating a natural division between teams, an abundance of unused space and the reception felt short of achieving its full potential.
We were challenged with finding a central location that would help the business grow and thrive, inspire their people and attract new talents by offering them all the perks of being in the heart of Milan.
We supported Pernod Ricard during all stages of researching and choosing the perfect location that would suit their people’s needs as well as the company’s budget. Located in one of Milan’s most lively areas, with a mix of vibrant shops and eateries around, Pernod Ricard’s new office is on the third floor of the new architectural icon, De Castillia 23.
Just a short walk away from the Bosco Verticale, Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Corso Como fashion district, Pernod Ricard’s new office offers an iconic panorama of one of the liveliest and fastest developing areas of the city, as well as many nearby amenities, from shopping to food delivery, with a wide selection of restaurants bars and bistros. The perfect location for nurturing talent.
Sustainability
Pernod Ricard’s new workplace is located in the most iconic urban park in the city, Biblioteca degli Alberi (meaning Library of Trees). This is a sustainable area that contains a rich compilation of plant life with over 135,000 plants, including 100 different species and 500 trees.
Together with the acclaimed Bosco Verticale, the pair of residential towers that house plants and trees on every single terrace, Bosco degli Alberi represents a new model for greener cities.
Designed to be an example of sustainable architecture, the building has a glass second skin that diffuses natural light inside, significantly reducing the use of artificial lighting, and uses photovoltaic and geothermal systems to produce energy and heat without releasing pollutants into the atmosphere.
On all the building’s façades and the flooring of the balconies and outdoor areas have been used Cloudy Core Active and Sharp Core Active porcelain slabs by Fiandre Architectural Surfaces, a recyclable material does not erode the planet’s resources and is produced by a company that returns all production waste back into the process. This particular eco-active material is able to degrade the pollutants in the air, with a smog-eating function.
The ceramic tiles are photocatalytic, self-cleaning, antibacterial, anti-polluting and anti-odor. Each Active tile is treated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver to enhance and improve bactericidal performance, 24 hours a day, even in the dark.
Interior Design - International Commercial
Open to all international projects this award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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