Perpétuo Office

Júlia Tótoli

• Architects

The Perpétuo Office is part of a mixed-use business comprised of coworking spaces, a bar, a business accelerator, and areas for events, lectures, and workshops. An old warehouse in a city zone currently undergoing transformation from industrial to commercial and residential uses has been adapted to accommodate the new business, distributing the functional program elements across two levels along an internal street. The reuse and re-signification of spaces, elements, and materials are prominent themes throughout the project.

The management office of the business occupies a two-level volume adjacent to the internal street, with a passageway area on the ground floor that connects to the external street through a pivoting gate, also serving as private parking.

photo_credit Júlia Tótoli — Júlia Tótoli

At the private entrance on the ground floor, adjacent to the garage, a set of reused window frames from a deactivated old store has been installed, featuring glass pivot doors that allow full visibility of the space from the internal street. In line with the language adopted throughout the project, the walls are constructed of solid bricks, and the window frames, metal structure, and railings are painted in matte black.
The ground floor and mezzanine floors are finished with reused wooden parquet tiles from another project, arranged in a diamond pattern adapted from the style known as "Versailles," in a broad modulation suitable for the scale of the space. The private bathroom is concealed within the workspace by a traditional cloakroom furniture piece installed with hinges, creating a kind of secret passage.

Adjacent to the most visually impactful wall of the space, a bookshelf spanning the entire double-height ceiling is the most prominent visual element and also the main light fixture of the Office, with illuminated shelves creating a scenic effect and background scenery on both the ground floor and mezzanine, inspired by and referencing libraries and reading rooms in English universities. The spiral staircase, a pre-existing element in the industrial warehouse, is repositioned for the Office where it takes on a sculptural character in harmony with the backdrop provided by the illuminated bookshelf, framed by rounded corners in line with the facade's window frames.

On the mezzanine, the suspended walkway leads to the second level of the illuminated bookshelf as well as to the wine cellar meeting area, which also features a second shelf for wine, books, and ornaments. The shelf is made of green MDF to introduce a second complementary color to the space, with glass doors on each side leading to the pantry and reception area. The ceiling follows the "coffered ceiling" modulation and aligns with the vertical elements of the main shelf.

The reception area connects to the mezzanine circulation from the internal street and serves as the arrival space for visitors and guests, where the walls are covered in bronze mirrors and the ceiling consists of modules with indirect lighting, creating a visually impactful effect in the small reception area.