Danish Hygge, Greenery and Krakow Accents: The Zendesk Office by The Design Group

The Zendesk office in the MK29 building on the Vistula Boulevards in Krakow is a space arranged in the spirit of Danish hygge, full of nature and greenery. It does not lack local Krakow accents either.

This office is like a stroll through one of the small Danish towns. It surprises not only with its good organisation, but also with modernity combined with a fascination for timeless classics. Nature and greenery dominate here, calming minds and emotions like nothing else. This is what the Krakow Zendesk office looks like, designed by The Design Group studio.

Zendesk is an international technology company headquartered in San Francisco. In 2018, the company decided to acquire Base, a Polish-American startup operating in Krakow. The branch in the capital of Lesser Poland continued to grow, creating the need for new office space.

In Pursuit of a Home Atmosphere

For Zendesk, the office is a very important expression of what the company represents. The interiors we designed were to very accurately reflect the aesthetics of the brand, as well as its character. The company was very keen for their office spaces to be home-like, natural, yet unforgettable. It could not resemble a traditional, corporate workplace, so even the colour temperature of the light inside is not typical for office interiors – we opted for a warm shade (at 2700 Kelvin intensity). – Alicja Zielińska-Popiela, TDG architect

The designers from The Design Group, in accordance with Zendesk’s requirements, focused on creating spaces full of creative spots enhancing a sense of community and integration. They ensured that the interiors blend modern solutions with innovative thinking about workspace and well-preserved classicism.

The Garden Zone, Creative Corner and More

Although nearly a hundred people work in the Krakow Zendesk office, not a single private office can be found across the entire space – but many interesting work and relaxation zones can be discovered. The open space with employee desks is located on the lower floor of the office. Above are themed zones conducive to individual work, relaxation or creative group activities.

These include a creative corner with bleachers designed for training sessions and team meetings, as well as a wellness zone where employees can relax or choose to engage in some physical activity. The largest area of the office is occupied by the garden zone – a chillout open space divided by built-in planters with living plants.

The garden zone seamlessly connects with the fountain space located on the lower floor of the office. The latter has two functions: on a daily basis it is a canteen, but also a space designed for company town halls. All thanks to the staircase connecting the two floors, which partly serves as bleachers.

Creating the opening between the floors and building the huge staircase-bleachers connecting them was the greatest technical challenge of this project. But the effort was definitely worth it. The final result is surprising. – architect Konrad Krusiewicz, CEO of The Design Group

On the upper floor, Zendesk employees can enjoy a bar area, a game room, a library, and one of the two cafés located in the office. The second coffee point is located right next to the reception.

Cosiness and Security

The spaces created by The Design Group are dominated by simple lines, clean geometry and natural materials. Everything refers to the timeless Danish design style and creates a welcoming, neutral atmosphere in line with the hygge philosophy, which places emphasis on cosiness and security.

Nature-Inspired Interiors

In the finish of the individual zones we find neutral colours, natural wood and wood veneers, wool and numerous plants. The latter make us feel more as if we are in a garden than a closed office space.

We designed a large number of plants that create zones conducive to communication and integration between users. They purify the air and also give employees a sense of security and closeness to nature. – architect Alicja Zielińska-Popiela

The Zendesk office interiors refer to the winding course of the Vistula River and the surrounding greenery. The rounded shape of the planters in the garden zone and the arrangement of acoustic curtains creating a wave rhythm refer to the shapes of flowing water.

Polish Accents

Other interesting arrangement motifs are accents referring to Polish architecture: PRL-era glass blocks in the reception zone, and the ‘gorseciki’ tiles popular in the interwar period in the bar. A strong point evoking Krakow’s heritage is the stained glass window paying homage to the work of Stanisław Wyspiański, designed by a Krakow artist.

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