Alibaba Group's new offices located in Azrielli buildings - Tel Aviv, Israel. The brief received by the clients was that they wanted the space to feel welcoming and up to date. They wanted the offices to become home to the workers and for them to feel that both the floor plan and materials all create a warm and sophisticated feeling. In addition, part of the brief was that we need to take into account the systems on site, which we mostly had to keep untouched, preserving what was already there and making the minimum amount of changes.

In order to accomplish that, right at the beginning of the project it was clear that it is necessary to create a precise balance between the warm raw materials and the cold new materials. We achieved this balance by using raw, recycled wood in the partition between the public entrance and the open space area. The use of claimed woods for the reception also emphasized the location of the project, all found, processed and designed by a local artist. Along with the old wood, there are concrete walls, and touches of color all together merging and flattering each other. The use of the wooden parquet floor also brought a cozy feeling to the work space and allowed for the small salons to feel just like home.  

The office plan offers open-space work desks, informal collaboration areas, formal conference room, a mothers' room, and a café and kitchen area.

Design: Shirli Zamir Design Studio

Construction Project Manager: David Raz

Photography: Kfir Ziv