WINNER
Spotify Global Offices
by Acrylicize, for Spotify
Art studio Acrylicize was tasked with the huge job of crafting a global brand experience for Spotify across 19 of its different locations, including London, New York, Paris and Berlin. Starting with the New York office, Acrylicize set about developing a strategy that could then be effectively exported to the 18 other locations.
Their design solution for Spotify consisted of four elements: Wayfinding, Brand Experience, Artwork and Activations. It was important for all of the spaces to be easily and intuitively navigable, so the team came up with a suite of bespoke, universal icons that could be applied in each of the Spotify offices. The spaces also needed to be inspiring and closely-tied to the Spotify culture, so the brand’s love of audio informed almost every aspect of the strategy, from the icons and signage to a range of commissioned murals by emerging artists local to each location.
This human-oriented approach also enabled Acrylicize to build a playground for the senses, engaging employees and visitors with artworks that allow them to play with gradients from the Spotify brand palette, for example, or experience sounds generated from bio emissions. These design decisions formed the structure for NYC, and then the foundations for the rest of the properties across the Spotify portfolio.
The judges said: “This curatorial approach is an exemplar of extraordinary quality that demonstrates how artwork should be integrated into workplace environments. A testament to the talent and skill of all involved.”
The Malin
by Jean Morana and Jordan Trinci-Lyne, in collaboration with Fettle Design, for The Malin
Designed by creative duo Jean Morana and Jordan Trinci-Lyne, along with consultants at Fettle Design, The Malin is a collection of private offices and a shared workspace. Set inside a bright and airy SoHo loft in New York, it looks to reimagine the experience of working outside of the home.
Jean, Jordan and the Fettle Design team worked together to create an environment that is inspiring and motivating, but also relaxing in a way that is reminiscent of the personal spaces we have grown ever-more attached to during the pandemic. Composed of multiple zones, including a library, open common areas, three private offices, three conference rooms, four private phone booths, and a barista kitchen, The Malin provides a superior level of flexibility to cater to all of its guests’ desires. The decor itself is varied, ranging from bold colour palettes and furnishings in areas that aim to inspire creativity, to more subdued features in other settings that aim to give a feeling of peace. Members are encouraged to use whichever zone best suits their needs throughout the day.
6 Babmaes Street
by Fathom Architects, for The Crown Estate
Fathom Architects was briefed by The Crown Estate to develop a new workspace for its office clients at 6 Babmaes Street. Responding to the changing nature of work in cities, Fathom chose to focus this project on wellbeing and social interaction rather than desk-based tasks, creating a collaborative space that would foster connection.
As a retrofit of a disused 1970s building, the design looks to that era for inspiration, incorporating rugs, paintings and murals that draw on geometric shapes and bold colours. These are accompanied by textured retro materials, such as hessian, fluted glass and macramé, which complement the building’s exposed concrete beams. Curved timber joinery, polished terrazzo and brushed metalwork contrast with the earthier materials and the greenery that can be found throughout the space. The latter was particularly important to the Fathom team, as they were keen for there to be a connection to nature, and a focus on sustainability with this project. The idea was furthered by a new rooftop creating 200sqm of ecologically rich space to enhance biodiversity and local air quality, as well as reducing rainwater run-off.
McCann Worldgroup office
by Gensler, for McCann Worldgroup
McCann Worldgroup, one of the world’s largest ad agency networks, partnered with Gensler to unite over 1,200 of its staff and 12 of its different agencies under one roof. Located at 135 Bishopsgate in London, this extensive workspace was designed to facilitate cross-agency collaboration, cohesion and creative thinking, whilst celebrating each agency’s individual specialism.
The primary focal points for the project were connection, health and sustainability. Multi-use zones, open-plan layouts and free-standing furniture solutions allow the space to adapt to future changes, while inclusive design features accommodating for neurodiversity and religious observance have been incorporated, supporting the physical, mental and emotional health of users. 135 Bishopsgate has also been awarded the LEED Sustainability Certification and has been built to a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating. Wherever possible, materials and products were sourced locally, existing furniture and equipment from the former studios were reused, and it was ensured that many of the new products had Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
Workplace Interiors
shortlisted
Unispace Zurich
by Unispace
Global interior design firm Unispace has undergone rapid growth in recent years and its team in Zurich needed a new studio that could act as a showroom, presenting their best work to potential clients and leaving a lasting impression through quality design. It also needed to cater to their growing number of employees, allowing for flexible styles of work and a supportive environment.
Drawing on the Swiss design tradition of contemporary minimalism, it chose to work with muted materials like grey stone, and balanced these with natural woods and soft colour palettes to create a space that is both inspiring and calming. The layout includes an open event space, private boardrooms, a mindfulness room for relaxation, a mothering room for tending to newborns, and two large outdoor terraces for socialising. There is also a Materials Library, where clients can get a real feel for the Unispace experience by exploring the moodboards, sketches, fabric swatches, and colour palettes that will form the design journey for their projects.
