The new office of the Poznan branch of an international FinTech company, designed by architects from AKA Studio, was created in the spirit of the 3R principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The space was designed to promote both the physical and emotional comfort of employees and their integration. It's a place where work and relaxation blend seamlessly - including after hours, when employees play their favorite board games together.
FinTech company office
Photo by W_Centre
Polish FinTech company with new work space
Architecture studio AKA Studio carried out a comprehensive metamorphosis of FinTech's offices in Warsaw and Poznań. The first completed project was the modernization of the office in the Pixel building in Poznan.
FinTech company's office
Photo: W_Centre
We started the work with Workplace workshops with employees. This allowed us not only to understand their needs, but also to identify the key challenges of the existing space," says arch. Agata Łapuchowska, co-owner of AKA Studio.
FinTech company office
Photo by W_Centre
In the spirit of the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
AKA Studio architects applied the principles of sustainable design, basing their concept on the idea of minimizing environmental impact while creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces. The 3Rs principle, became the basis for many design decisions.
The office of a FinTech company
Photo by W_Centre
Applying the 3Rs is a standard for us. In the case of the Poznan office, this meant several specific actions. We minimized the use of new materials, adapting the existing functional layout to the tenant's needs. We reused finishing elements such as plywood, much of the suspended ceilings and lighting, which significantly reduced waste generation. We also used recycled materials, including furniture made from recycled PET bottles and fishing nets," says arch. Karolina Kowalik, co-owner of AKA Studio. We also pay special attention to the carbon footprint. That's why so many furnishings come from Polish manufacturers and from Europe," she adds.
FinTech company office
Photo by W_Centre
An office that supports well-being
The entire office has been arranged in the form of separate, large work offices, open space areas and conference rooms of various sizes, equipped with full video conferencing infrastructure. The focal point of the space is a kitchen combined with a dining room and a playroom - a place where employees can relax by playing their favorite board games after hours. The friendly, homey atmosphere is created by numerous curtains in shades of orange, purple and blue, plants (including a spectacular green wall) and elements made of natural, reclaimed and refurbished plywood.
FinTech company office
Photo by In_Center
The space was originally equipped with fluorescent lighting. In order to minimize operating costs, the architects proposed using the existing lamp housings, replacing only the light sources with LEDs. This adjusted the appropriate amount of lumens above the workstations.
The office was also equipped with advanced acoustic solutions to promote concentration and comfort. These include ceilings made of wood wool, special wall panels and new suspended acoustic islands. The dominant color in the arrangement is blue, referring to the company's corporate identity.
The office of a FinTech company
Photo: W_Center
When designing this space, we were able to preserve 80% of the functional layout, which allowed us to significantly reduce costs. A big challenge was the dark corridor, which after the renovation gained new life thanks to caffé points and a green wall. To give it more expression we introduced an energetic pattern on the carpet. The unique character of the office is created by large-format illustrations by Pola Augustynowicz, depicting 'inside jokes' from the IT industry, says architect Karolina Kowalik.
FinTech company office
Photo by In_Centre
FinTech's new office is an example of how sustainable design principles can create a space that combines functionality, aesthetics and environmental concerns.
FinTech company's office
Photo by W_Center
Implementation data
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Area: 1200 m²
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Design team: Karolina Kowalik, Agata Łapuchowska, Paweł Foks, Magda Chrzanowska, Sebastian Warkiewicz
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Realization: 2024
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Location: Poznań, Pixel
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Illustrations on the walls: Pola Augustynowicz
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Photos: In_Centre
