Union Swiss Head Office

Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

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Union Swiss Head Office

Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

Firm

Inhouse

Type

Commercial › Office

YEAR

2008

BUDGET

$0 - 10K

The objective of the project was to design an office interior that reflected an eco-friendly environment that breathed the Union Swiss brand, without being too literal. The overall interior design aimed to push the boundaries in terms of fresh thinking and innovative spatial planning. We were encouraged to create the unexpected, in look and functionality, yet encapsulate a simplistic, harmonious, inspiring workspace that reflected their brand attributes whilst “living the green life”.

Union Swiss Offices were split over two floors, yet a flow of communication was imperative between these floors, without the constraints of any physical barriers. This was achieved by breaking through the slab and creating a large whimsical spiral staircase which acted as the handshake to each floor, a “stand and chat” meeting space whilst allowing for vertical circulation. Glass walls gave a sense of company transparency and honesty and encouraged staff interaction whilst multi-purpose meeting rooms and creative think tank areas were made into comforting ‘homey’ spaces by utilising plush carpets, floor to wall, a sense of warmth to offset the clean, crisp, open surroundings. .

The introduction of a new entrance lobby on the 8th floor parking level acts as the face of Union Swiss. The clean glowing seductive entrance, a contradiction to the surrounding dirty parking lot, is an affirmation that we created the unexpected.