In the increasingly deep field of software engineering, HEITS.digital is what we call a circuit breaker. Their radical departure from established hierarchical structures sets them apart, allowing them a fresh perspective on any issue they come across. They reached out to us for their HQ in the newly-built Palas Campus, Iași. After studying their culture and needs, we realised that, given their team-based approach and collaborative spirit, our delivery needed to go above and beyond a traditional office.
Adaptive work spaces dissolve disciplinary boundaries and distinctions between work and play, allowing for a work-as-pleasure environment.
- vitra: the newspaper about work, issue #2
Our proposal began with a set of simple questions: who uses this office? how do they use it? what can we do to facilitate this usage? We identified three distinctive user personalities (the worker bee, the fun guy, and the guest), and established individual flows for each type, allowing the points where they intersect to reveal their potential qualities.
At its core, the HEITS.digital space is a Club Office - meaning that there are no assigned individual workstations, and the workflow is extremely flexible. The areas we included all support this way of occupying the office, and encourage interaction to whatever degree the employees are comfortable with at any given time.
The first contact between guest and space is the Meeting Area. We opted for a radial composition, with contrasting elements between the ground and ceiling levels. The stars of the show are the Vitra Soft Work modules, which establish the layout of the room. Following the perspective lines carefully drawn by these elements, we reach our second protagonist; there are few pieces as iconic in design history as the Eames Lounge Chair which here take centre stage against the backdrop of the city.
Balancing out the understated and fine-tuned curves of the furniture is a custom-made metallic structure interspersed with lighting elements - its strong lines and vivid textures complete the composition and highlight the HEITS values: the emphasis on freedom of movement and on the democratisation of the space.
The semi-public area of the HEITS.digital Club takes the shape of a communal kitchen. This architectural insertion has a dual purpose: establishing a boundary between the public and private areas while defining an enclave for social interaction and relaxation. To highlight the multi-faceted character of this area, here we have the Vitra Universal family, displayed around a custom-made centrepiece table. The kitchen furnishings in dark wood with marble detailing offer an elegant, but inviting atmosphere.
The private area consists of the individual workstations (which can be booked via an internal system) and the soundproofed meeting rooms. This part of the office faces the interior courtyard, which adds to the intimate atmosphere of the space.
The end composition is a carefully curated assortment of texture and colours expressing the client’s character. It is the result of a study in contrasts and complementing values, of decisions which range from the most obvious backdrop to the littles trimmings the eye can notice.
