Occupying the top three floors of Varso Tower, Baker McKenzie's new Warsaw headquarters is a workplace that surprises with its understated elegance and layered narrative. Blending the calm aesthetics of Japandi with the dynamic spirit of New York, the 4,000-square-metre office creates a working environment tailored to contemporary ways of living and working. It is a carefully composed landscape of architecture, craftsmanship, art and materiality that tells a story about balance.
Architecture that tells a story
Designed by the architects of BIT CREATIVE, Baker McKenzie's new Warsaw office was conceived as more than a highly functional workplace for a global law firm. It is an environment designed to create an emotional experience for its users. The concept draws inspiration from two places that are deeply embedded in the firm's identity—Japan and New York—whose distinct aesthetics intertwine throughout the interior in a subtle and refined dialogue.
"Our ambition was to create a workplace that feels calm without becoming static, elegant without feeling intimidating. Japandi provided the foundation, while the New York influence introduced energy and rhythm," says architect Barnaba Grzelecki, founder of BIT CREATIVE.
From the moment visitors enter, the office communicates its identity. Flooded with daylight through expansive glazing, the reception area was designed as a multifunctional space that seamlessly transitions from a welcoming lobby into a venue for meetings and events. At its centre stands a striking bonsai-inspired installation by a Norwegian company, serving both as a sculptural focal point and as a symbol of balance.
The restrained architectural language is enriched through a carefully curated material palette. A reception desk crafted from Breccia Lunare natural stone imported from Brazil, a handwoven textile artwork in the waiting area, and wallpapers made from natural fibres introduce warmth and tactile richness. Delicately integrated ceiling details softly guide the eye through the space, reinforcing the interior's visual continuity.
Sculptural lighting and architectural lightness
Throughout the project, detail is treated not as ornamentation but as a carrier of quality. Wall planes flow seamlessly into ceilings, creating cohesive, almost monolithic surfaces. Precisely executed junctions, material transitions and bespoke detailing reveal exceptional craftsmanship and close collaboration with specialist manufacturers and suppliers. Natural wood veneers, carefully selected stone with expressive veining, and richly textured fabrics engage the senses while maintaining an overall sense of restraint.
The same level of consideration is evident in the selection of furniture and furnishings. Soft, sculptural pieces from Tacchini's Julep collection define the shared spaces, while Mirabelle armchairs by Ulivi enrich the coffee point and lounge areas. Additional design accents by Eichholtz, Ethnicraft and Moooi Carpets contribute to the interior's refined character. Workspaces and staff kitchens were equally carefully curated with furniture and solutions by Bene, Okamura, Arper, TON, Paged and HAY, ensuring that the architectural concept extends consistently into the everyday user experience—intuitive, comfortable and centred on quality.
"This project is fundamentally about detail. Subtle differences in texture, light and colour create an experience that gradually reveals itself over time," explains the architect.
One of the office's defining architectural features is the staircase—a light, openwork structure that appears to float effortlessly within the space. It is accompanied by a bespoke lighting installation designed exclusively for the project by the architects at BIT CREATIVE and suspended against a backdrop of natural wood veneer. Its organic form contrasts with the staircase's geometric composition, creating an installation that sits at the intersection of architecture, design and art.
"We wanted light to become more than a functional element—it should be an experience. This installation guides users through the space, shapes the atmosphere and has become one of the office's defining features," adds architect Jakub Bubel.
Art as a shared language
An integral part of the project is a carefully curated collection of works by contemporary Polish artists, assembled in close collaboration with the client and supported by an independent art consultant. The artworks were selected to create a dialogue between cultures while strengthening the identity of the workplace.
Paintings, graphic works and installations are distributed throughout the office, forming a subtle yet perceptible narrative. In communal areas, art performs a representative function, while within workspaces it encourages more personal reflection. The collection showcases the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Polish art through artists representing different generations, creative approaches and artistic techniques.
The interior features works by Agata Bogacka, Olga Mokrzycka-Grospierre, Roma Hałat, Xawery Wolski and Paulina Włostowska, complemented by inkographs by Polish artists that further reinforce the office's artistic identity.
Flexibility instead of a single workplace model
Baker McKenzie's Warsaw headquarters moves beyond a single workplace typology, embracing diversity and spatial flexibility. Alongside open-plan areas, the office includes private offices for one, two and three people, accommodating different working styles as well as varying requirements for focus and collaboration.
The entrance zone leads into a suite of conference rooms, one of which can be flexibly divided or combined into a larger event space, making it equally suitable for meetings and larger gatherings. The programme is complemented by a library, phone booths and a technologically advanced mock courtroom designed to facilitate remote hearings.
While the interior is defined by a restrained palette of natural materials and muted colours, carefully placed accents bring greater vibrancy to the social spaces. Staff kitchens feature richer tones together with Japanese-inspired motifs, including a wallpaper depicting blooming cherry blossoms that introduces a sense of seasonality and lightness. These informal spaces create a relaxed counterpoint to the more formal work and meeting areas.
Colour as the energy of everyday life
Baker McKenzie's new headquarters at Varso Tower demonstrates how contemporary workplace design can extend far beyond conventional office planning. It is an environment conceived around sensory experience, emotional wellbeing and the diverse needs of its users, where architecture, art and functionality come together as a coherent whole.
The timeless quality of the project is equally defined by its material palette. Natural stone, meticulously selected wood veneers, richly textured fabrics and premium finishes not only establish the office's refined aesthetic but also ensure durability and longevity—qualities that are evident both in individual details and in the perception of the space as a whole.
"The greatest challenge was finding the right balance—between cultures, between work and relaxation, between privacy and openness. This office doesn't prescribe a single way of working or being; instead, it offers choice," concludes architect Barnaba Grzelecki.
Client: Baker McKenzie
Location: Varso Tower, Chmielna Street, Warsaw, Poland
Architects: BIT CREATIVE — Barnaba Grzelecki, Jakub Bubel, Agata Krykwińska, Zuzanna Wojda, Joanna Zaorska
Photography: Fotomohito
