In the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, the team at Kvadrat Architects has designed a new workplace for agrochemical experts Stratera with a bright, light-filled interior despite a distinct lack of windows.
The original space included a disproportionately long room, a lack of sunlight and monolithic walls with short spacing separating the working area. The Kvadrat architects team transformed the interior with volume, geometry and colour.
To remain relevant and timeless, the design maintains a unified style and inspires unconventional tasks. The client’s brief was to capture and embrace the company’s passion for technologies that influence work processes and employee efficiency.
Divided the length of the office into zones, the renewed layout includes a spacious office for the team leader, a meeting room, and a working environment for administrative staff. In the niches, there are cubicle systems for two, s united by common spheres.
The client also felt that given employees spend more time in the office than at home, it was important to create an environment that was comfortable to work in but also to relax and communicate with each other. The sofas in the centre and the lounge area are equipped specifically for this.
Letting in the light
In the manager’s office, light fixtures resembling windows were placed on the ceiling to recreate sunlight and the colour of the sky.
The meeting room and the office are visually perceived as a single space, in line with the company’s philosophy of openness to cooperation and new experiences. A translucid ceiling was used in the meeting room for light that is bright, even, and soft enough to balance the lack of daylight.
The meeting table also reflects the brand’s principles. In colour and shape, it is divided into two zones, with the executive at the head. Still, the exclusion of elevation, distance and rounded corners show flexibility and a willingness to be horizontally managed. The eco-carpet on the floor evokes a pleasant sensation when moving around and improves acoustics.
Light in colour
The office bathroom is just and light and bright as the rest of the space. There is a translucent canvas instead of the usual mirror above the sink. Doors in the stall are not blind, but made of frosted glass, which transmits and diffuses coloured lighting.