Aiming to translate Brazil’s culture for the local branch of an international insurance company, global architecture and design studio Perkins and Will used five different Brazilian biomes as an inspiration to create a fun, relaxed work environment, oriented by the client’s needs and business model.
“The main request for this design was to focus on open and collaborative spaces that would translate the company’s culture and rebranding process”, explains Carla Chalu, Project Architect in Perkins and Will’s São Paulo studio. To meet the client’s expectations, the architects studied the building’s design to create a dynamic layout that would improve floors’ usage. “We put together collaborative spaces on the plan’s edges to take advantage of the view and the natural light, aiming to inspire employees’ creativity and wellness. To avoid long hallways and create a more dynamic space, we mixed staff areas with meeting rooms”, explains.
Considering client’s business needs, reception desk and client areas have a more sober design, featuring neutral shades and natural elements. As someone enters the office, notices a gradual raise on colors’ usage, with palettes inspired on Brazilian biomes. “Earthy tones represent local environments such as Cerrado and Caatinga, with green and blue tones referring to the Amazon, Pantanal and the Atlantic forest, besides textures on carpets and coatings”, explains Carla.
Besides nature, Brazilian handcraft also inspired the office design. Used in the cafeteria, hydraulic tiles’ stamps have a bespoke design, created especially for the project and produced by a traditional local manufacturer. “We have also used furniture signed by Brazilian designers such as Fernanda Jagger”, says Daniella Superti, São Paulo’s Perkins and Will Project Manager.
Following the project standard of employees’ wellness, architects applied biophilic design features, using natural finishing materials such as wood and plants on all project areas. Clear glass partitions were set in meeting rooms to improve natural light usage.
