A Bulgarian Office | Think Forward

A Bulgarian office is a project for designing the interior space of a warehouse administrative part of a Bulgarian logistics company in the food industry. The universal formula for a successful office design /open plan + globalized design + biophilic design + game zones / in the particular dynamic work environment with little human resource has proven to be unsustainable. This is why the project adopts a counter-approach which we called “local identity against global trends” based on several key points:

- Local identity against the globalized office model;

- Visual integration + acoustic isolation against open plan;

- Integration of existing natural factors against artificial interior green accents;

- Meditation against game zones.

CONTEXT

The office is located in Burgas northern industrial zone nearby Vaya Lake. The warehouse glass façade provides a remarkable view to the rich lake biodiversity and creates a prerequisite for a pleasant work process and meditative breaks.

FUNCTION

The structure of the working process determines the architectural plan, which includes a foyer, two separate offices for the managers, one shared - for the employees who are in constant communication, a kitchen office. The spaces are separated by glass partition walls and glass bricks that provide visual connection and acoustic isolation.

CONCEPT

The functional is executed within the concept of the Bulgarian tradition. During the last two decades the company has been a reliable partner of Bulgarian food manufacturing businesses. The sense of stability and trust, combined with the efficiency of new technologies, is implemented in the collision between modern industrial office design, inspired by the warehouse architecture, and the sustainable Bulgarian values. The tradition is updated and recreated in the 21st century while preserving its meaning and artistic value. In the space between the existing industrial floor and the wooden ceiling cladding, contemporary office furniture are harmoniously mixed with product designs from the TrEdition furniture line.

TrEdition

Handmade cement floor tiles are integrated in the industrial floor. We created the MAKAZ TILES to encode the message of the traditional Bulgarian element “makaz” of  harmony and equilibrium. The simple graphic design of the MAKAZ tiles allows different pattern arrangements. The MAKAZ pattern welcomes visitors and invites them to the architectural narrative. The foyer includes a reception desk made of wood and technical stone, a waiting area, a metal ladder. The heavy Bulgarian gate is transformed into elegant wooden doors 3.10m high, which mark the entrances to the glass offices. The latter are a laconic setting for business meetings and a place for informal friendly conversations, where the main focus is the PARALIYA TABLE. We created this product to incorporate the collective power of the small round traditional Bulgarian table that united the family. The modern geometric design of the desk and the storage system made of metal vertical elements and MDF shelves hide traditional joints. The DIKANYA SIDEBOARD recreates the raster of the old farming tool and preserves the original Bulgarian value of hard work. The shared workspace follows the design logic and continues visually the metal storage system, the flooring and the ceiling finishes. The center of the room is marked by the MAKAZ tiles. Wooden desks providing eight permanent workstations are equipped with cabinets and hanging racks with built-in lighting.

Team: Think Forward /Galina Milkova+Nedko Nikolov/

Photography: Mara Radeva

Warehouse project: Darina Slavova