‘OFFICE SPACE_O’
Type: Office
Area: 2500 m2
Year: 2022
Phase: Concept design
Client: Ocado Technology Bulgaria
Team: AnyColor, 7561architects, Launchlabs
Finding out how the post-pandemic office space looks is the main challenge that this project offers. Ocado technology Sofia is at the same time expanding and in need of new laboratory spaces. On the other hand, like most modern IT companies it has a developed liberal home office politics. The question that stands is How to make people come back to the office, why, and when.
These questions require a diverse team of people with different backgrounds and knowledge. The project is a collaboration of two architecture offices – ‘AnyColor’ and ‘7561 architects’ as well as the Service design practice ‘Launchlabs’.
‘OFFICE SPACE_O’
Type: Office
Area: 2500 m2
Year: 2022
Phase: Concept design
Client: Ocado Technology Bulgaria
Team: AnyColor, 7561architects, Launchlabs
Finding out how the post-pandemic office space looks is the main challenge that this project offers. Ocado technology Sofia is at the same time expanding and in need of new laboratory spaces. On the other hand, like most modern IT companies it has a developed liberal home office politics. The question that stands is How to make people come back to the office, why, and when.
These questions require a diverse team of people with different backgrounds and knowledge. The project is a collaboration of two architecture offices – ‘AnyColor’ and ‘7561 architects’ as well as the Service design practice ‘Launchlabs’.
The early stage of the project included multiple meetings and workshops with a large team of ambassadors from Ocado’s side. Ocado is divided into teams of 10-20people so the approach was directed towards the individual teams. We tried to find the answers for what is their daily routine, what kind of meeting spaces they need, and what kind of recreation spaces they need. Every team is different and in a way shaped and formed its own space.
We paid huge attention to the noise problems, air quality, and lighting quality with our team of engineers and specialists in the specific fields. At the same time, we are talking with the employees knowing firsthand the disadvantages of the current situation of the building.
Most of the teams needed a quiet environment but at the same time, each employee has multiple meetings every day. The existing meeting rooms that the building offers and not nearly enough or they are too big, that’s how the main intervention/need in the work areas appeared. We designed modular mini spaces that serve as office booths – sound-insulated spaces for small groups of two to six people. These boxes inside the bigger hall serve as sound buffers and help the overall sound quality, meanwhile, their outer walls can be used as whiteboards. The boxes are a bespoke product that we develop with multiple craftsmen – carpenter, upholsterer, glazier, metalworker, etc.
The spaces between the office booths are the so-called collaboration corners. They offer soft seatings, quick touch points and other alternative open meeting areas. Design and navigation wise they are marked with different flooring colors and the next level of coziness is achieved with the bespoke wooden suspended ceilings with integrated lights and greenery. The interior greenery is a focal point in the interior design and it finds its place in both work zones and recreation zones.
Each of the three floors has a unique color and one large communal area. Facing the problem of people spending time only in their own team area and floor we wanted to mix and connect employees that don’t know each other. That’s why the social hubs have different themes and are formed in a way to host different gatherings.
On the fifth floor, the zone presents two scenarios – for lectures and presentations and for active recreation. Bespoke Sliding panels on the periphery separate small niches that accommodate fitness equipment for the first scenario and technique and chairs for the other. The panels as well serve as projecting and drawing boards. There is a large podium that serves as a bench at the same time zones for different activities. The area has a small bar with integrated greenery that visually connects with the floor and ceiling.
The sixth-floor social corner’s theme is board games and quiet recreation. It offers a large soft seating area and multiple single tables that can be rearranged accordingly. The design blends in with the nearby meeting rooms. They are divided with folding glass and can be easily included in the zone when there are bigger gatherings. The design focal point of the zone is the suspended lighting. They form a fluid shape that spreads in all rooms and unites them.
The sixth-floor social corner’s theme is board games and quiet recreation. It offers a large soft seating area and multiple single tables that can be rearranged accordingly. The design blends in with the nearby meeting rooms. They are divided with folding glass and can be easily included in the zone when there are bigger gatherings. The design focal point of the zone is the suspended lighting. They form a fluid shape that spreads in all rooms and unites them.
On the seventh floor is the main kitchen and eating area. The zone offers all types of seatings – bar stools, sofas, and benches and they can all be rearranged and reshaped in any way.
