Project Overview

Our presence in Switzerland had seen rapid growth and as a result, our local team grew just as quickly. Previously, our team of 25 resided in a small yet stylish studio in the city centre, and now at 40 team members, we were bursting at the seams and in need of a new home.

Our new studio would act as a showroom, presenting the very best of what we could offer as a global firm creating amazing spaces. From the moment our guests walk through the door, we wanted to create an experience with high-quality design that leaves a lasting impression. Simultaneously, the space needed to work for our people, providing a variety of flexible spaces that allowed colleagues to be their best selves.

The result is a destination workplace that feels chic and sophisticated, yet warm and welcoming to draw people into the office. We blended hospitality into the workplace to create the best balance of form and function.

Organisation

Unispace

Project Brief

In order to ensure that the studio acted as a showroom, we needed to use exquisite materials and finishes to create a unique experience that left a lasting impression with clients and visitors.

We opted for a sleek design bringing together clean lines and high-quality materials, such as the long grey stone counter in the cafeteria and symmetrical acoustic baffling in the ceiling. This contemporary minimalism echoed themes traditionally seen in Swiss design, balanced with natural wood and a soft colour palette for an approachable feel.

Our Materials Library was designated to showcase moodboards, sketches and the design journey that a client would embark on with Unispace. Built with sleek shelving, drawers and display cabinets, clients are able to touch and feel fabric swatches, acoustic padding and see the proposed colour palette of their project in real life, adding to the overall experience.

In conjunction with this was the need to create an inspiring space for our own people to thrive. The workplace needed to contain spaces for everyone to allow them to focus, collaborate, problem-solve, socialise and ultimately, be their best selves.

The open event space, situated in the heart of the studio, was designed to bring people together for socialising, informal meetings and events. Equipped with state-of-the-art video conferencing, presentation screens and surround sound, the space can host a variety of events and be live streamed, connecting to remote audiences and our global studios.

Project Innovation/Need

In order to provide the best experience for everyone, we designed two entrances for our studio, one for team members and another for clients. The employee entrance was positioned next to a corridor of lockers and the kitchen area for team members to grab a drink in the morning and settle in before the start of their day.
The private client entrance led to an expansive 10-person executive boardroom for meetings, presentations and video conferences. Designed with a soundproofed glass wall with accordion hinges, the wall can be opened up to connect with the adjacent hosting area, complete with sofa lounge, workstation and refreshments for clients to stay and work from our studio if desired.

Subtle dividers were used in the open floorplate to create neighbourhoods without disrupting the natural flow of the space. Acoustic curtains, open shelving and mid-height counters provide privacy whilst maintaining a welcoming feel.
The floorplan also included two small meeting rooms for formal meetings, video conferences and phone calls, plus a large table that can be used for touchdown work, as a collaborative space or as an additional private boardroom with the curtains drawn.
Two areas of elevated flooring were installed next to the floor-to-ceiling windows as a way of maximising the best views. Each elevated area contains a semi-private high-backed cocoon pod, not only does this provide focus areas for phone calls and individual work, but also to enjoy the best views. As an additional advantage, the high-backed chairs are made from material with acoustic properties to prevent sound reverberation from the large windows.

Design Challenge

In the previous workplace, there was no communal area to eat and socialise, so colleagues felt inclined to eat at their desk and continue with work, without taking a break. With our new studio, we needed to emphasise the importance of taking time out. Investing in our people and enhancing the company’s culture was paramount. The aim was to inspire colleague loyalty, boost morale, motivate and build a positive atmosphere by promoting a happier, healthier and more connected workplace that would inevitably promote higher employee satisfaction.
The new cafeteria is situated by the employee entrance as a ‘bumping space’ to encourage colleagues to socialise while they make a coffee in the morning and settle in before starting their workday. It’s also designed to be used all throughout the day for informal meetings, coffee breaks, lunchtime or as a touchdown space to work.
With zero desk ownership and designated lockers for belongings and equipment, we also encouraged people to move around and sit somewhere different every day. This promoted our colleagues to build better relationships outside of their immediate teams and improve productivity by working in a space that suits varying moods day to day.
Since the pandemic, the office is regularly busy with team members finding the space more valuable than working from home, with occupancy rates over 80% and wanting to use the space because they love to, rather than feel they have to.

Sustainability

The building has been accredited with the highest possible LEED rating of Platinum, due to its high-quality sustainable energy processes. Heating and cooling within the studio is drawn from underground thermal storage units, while energy and water consumption is minimised through energy recovery.

The photovoltaic installation on the roof of the building harnesses natural solar energy while the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the space are fitted with interstitial blinds (located between the two panes of glass) to optimise the amount of natural light used. The blinds also prevent the studio from overheating by controlling the passage of sunlight through the glazing. This allows colleagues to better maintain internal temperatures and rely less upon air conditioning and mechanical means of climate control.

We opted for recycled materials wherever possible to reduce our carbon footprint. In meeting rooms and touchdown spaces acoustic padding made from recycled shoe soles was incorporated in the wall panels. The panelling was chosen not only for its acoustic properties, but also its natural insulation, dirt-resistance and fire-retardant qualities.
Acoustic curtains were also installed to act as subtle dividers to create neighbourhoods and closed spaces, rather than building fixed walls that would use more materials and potentially block out natural sunlight. The ceilings are also exposed to cut down on unnecessary material usage and to add to the visual interest of the space.

The lighting, workstation monitors and presentation screens were equipped with energy-efficient sensor technology to optimise energy use, which detect movement and automatically turn off when unoccupied.

We maximised natural light from the wraparound windows that look out onto stunning views of 80,000 sqm park containing walking routes, forest parks and social areas for colleagues.