The Russian architecture firm za bor architects has transformed an old brewery / factory building into a state of the art office for the Russian IT company Iponweb. Due to the building being reconstructed several times throughout the years, the architects preserved the historical properties of the building, which led to a lot of interesting details such as crossbeams and utility lines, as well as a substantial level difference on the sixth floor, where the office is located.
The project developed by za bor architects stands out through unique irregular geometry and a neutral colour palette. The office was designed to accommodate 120 employees, as well as visiting international partners. People are welcomed into the space by an angular compact geometric tunnel that leads to an open gathering area, as there is no formal reception area in the building.
The work areas are separated from each other by either level difference or as separate standing partitions and are located along the windows to provide maximum amount of natural light.
On the perimeter of the building there are seven conference rooms located. Each conference room was named after a planet that strongly emphasizes the “geocentric role of the Moscow office for Iponweb company”. The concept is highlighted through typography, clearly defining each conference room and its name.
The monochromatic theme is carried through the entire office, as the only pop of colour visible in the space comes from natural plants. In terms of materials, za bor architects opted for cork and dry easy coverings, while Sonaspray was used as an acoustic material to coat the communication lines under the ceiling.
While za bor architects are known for using a more colourful palette in their designs, as seen in their Yandex II Office in Saint Petersburg, the monochromatic choice is complimented by the strong irregular geometry, and spectacular view of the Shukhov radio tower.
Facts:
Client: Iponweb
Address: «Shabolovka 31» business center, 31 Shabolovka Street, building 5, Moscow
Project management: za bor architects
Architecture and design: za bor architects
Architects: Arseniy Borisenko and Peter Zaytsev
Furniture: Steelcase, Ikea
Flooring: Interface FLOR
Time of project: 2012-2013
Floor area: 1100 m²
Photography: Peter Zaytsev / za bor architects
*All images and information courtesy of za bor architects.
