Recordati

The key to unlocking this project's potential was reimagining how people would enter and experience the space. Rather than maintaining the existing entrance which forced visitors down a narrow, corridor-like approach, we proposed relocating the entrance entirely.

Visitors now arrive through the building's glass atrium lifts, ascending with anticipation before the doors open directly into the heart of the workspace. This creates an immediate wow factor that sets the tone for everything that follows. The Recordati logo takes centre stage at this entrance, creating a strong first impression. Carpet inlays and thoughtful material choices frame this arrival sequence, with layers of visual interest that reveal themselves as visitors step into the space.

The relocated entrance opened up sight lines to the spectacular green fields beyond the windows, bringing natural beauty into the daily experience. As visitors move further in, the views unfold, connecting the interior environment with the landscape beyond.

From the entrance, the space opens into a vibrant, collaborative zone that naturally brings people together. This area forms the beating heart of the office, where the exposed concrete soffit reveals a warm putty colour that adds unexpected warmth throughout. We meticulously cleaned and simplified the existing services, creating refined lines that complement the architecture.

Managing the base build mechanical and electrical works allowed us to remove the suspended ceilings and reveal the architectural structure above. This contemporary ceiling treatment adds character whilst maintaining the warm, inviting atmosphere we sought to create. The spatial planning flows naturally from this central collaborative hub, with the space gradually becoming more cellular and private as you journey deeper into the office.

Throughout this entrance and collaborative area, strategic carpet zones balance the warmth of timber flooring whilst providing acoustic absorption and defining different areas. The combination of hard and soft finishes creates visual interest whilst managing the acoustics in this busy, social space.

Moving deeper into the space, the open plan working areas feature flexible desk arrangements that support modern ways of working. A sustainable approach retained approximately 60% of existing assets whilst focusing investment on pieces that would define the new working culture.

The exposed ceilings maintain their presence throughout, creating visual continuity whilst the changing desk configurations signal a shift from the collaborative entrance towards more focused work settings. The historic graphics and brand values remain visible from these work areas, creating constant connection points with Recordati's story and culture.

With Recordati celebrating their centennial year, we saw an opportunity to weave their rich history throughout the design. The company had an archive of historic imagery spanning their 100-year journey. Working closely with the team, we created a graphics package with larger format prints featuring contextual information that connects staff across all sites and generations.

The challenge was balancing this historic narrative with their contemporary brand identity and values. We achieved this by creating an amalgamation throughout the space - historic imagery celebrating the journey, interwoven with bold Recordati branding and visual representations of their company values positioned in key sight lines from the desk areas.