A Space Without Limits Set on Imagination – The New Autodesk Office in Kraków
Surprising colours, bespoke ceiling structures, wall murals – this office seems to be a space created without limits placed on imagination. The new Autodesk headquarters in Kraków was literally made to order. This is the achievement of the Warsaw studio The Design Group.
The Kraków Szkieletor waited nearly 45 years to open its doors. During that time it was the subject of many architectural disputes and vested interests, as well as a prominent “hanger” for advertisements. Completely transformed, it now forms the central point of Kraków’s Unity Centre. It is precisely here, at the address Lubomirskiego 2, that the office of the international corporation Autodesk found its home.
Colourful Net Effect
The original assumption was to create interiors in an industrial style – bright spaces creating an atmosphere conducive to work. The Design Group designers proposed a slight modification of the style – they call it modern industrial through the addition of warmth with wood and vivid colours. Everything started with Autodesk’s own graphics, which imposed on the designers the colour palette of furniture and cut-and-stretched steel mesh spread across ceilings and partly on walls. A preview of the colour palette appears already in the lift lobby – a huge letter A made from mesh reaches almost to the ceiling.
“The biggest design challenge in the Kraków Autodesk office was the coordination of the ceiling elements. Thanks to the commitment and coordination of many people’s work, we managed to achieve the intended effect – emphasises Marta Konarska, the architect responsible for the Autodesk office concept.” Net Effect has definitely become the leitmotif of the office. “Many people contributed to the final appearance of the Kraków Autodesk office. The client himself was also very involved – admits architect Konrad Krusiewicz, founder and CEO of The Design Group.”
In the Rhythm of the City
The investor was very keen for the office to reflect the urban fabric of Kraków. Autodesk ensures the maintenance of a given city’s atmosphere in each of its offices around the world. “The client was open from the start to working with artists, whose photographs and murals referring to famous Kraków landmarks can be admired throughout the Autodesk office – emphasises arch. Marta Konarska.” In the staff kitchen there is a mural depicting only half of one of Kraków’s buildings, whose other half can be found in the reflection of a huge mirror.
Multi-functionality Friendly to Employees
The Design Group designers ensured the functionality and flexibility of the space. The kitchen, separated by a curtain from the chillout zone, can serve not only for rest, but also for calling whole-team meetings – a projector is installed here, and the veneered table can be converted into a billiard table. Employees use the open space, but also have separate rooms and a room with a treadmill. The designers delineated a stream area for discussing presentations, brainstorming and recording ideas on whiteboards. “The office we designed is very distinctive, yet also tailored to the client’s needs. Throughout the office, one can encounter a variety of textures, colours and finishes – but ultimately we combined all of this into a coherent whole – adds arch. Marta Konarska.”
