SYMRISE Office Design by TBI architecture & engineering | Sofia Alexanderson

To the rhythm of water and earth is the motto that has inspired TBI in the design of the new representative office of the multinational fragrance and cosmetics company: SYMRISE, their Scent & Care segment, located in the center of Barcelona.

Symrise office has been designed to leave a visually strong impression, while being a place for creation of new fragrances and cosmetic innovation.

Taking water, the fundamental element of fragrances, as a starting point, the architectural intervention aims to create new spacious, fresh and bright spaces, structured with glass partitions that allow natural light to flow and, at the same time, preserve the privacy of the different work areas. An optimal distribution of spaces that respects at all times the needs of the client and allows all workstations to have natural light. Light reaches all points, favoring the well-being of the workers and minimizing the need for artificial lighting.

The entrance wall is a powerful corporate identity eye catcher with a splendid turquoise blue that evokes the aquatic element, where the backlit logo and recessed showcases displaying the brand's products stand out.

All workstations are arranged perpendicular to the glazed façade, maximizing the penetration of natural light without the risk of glare. Each office has been furnished according to the needs of the work team. The furniture is white with oak wood details, which, combined with the light wood flooring and warm gray textiles, give a natural and clean look to the space.

For the common areas such as the meeting room, the focus room and the kitchenette, we have chosen the terracotta that links with the concept of earth. Natural wood, marble countertops and handcrafted tiles create a warm, earthy and restful feeling. Lots of natural plants give that extra oxygen to the space.

The selection of the luminaires is designed to provide varied lighting, with great visual comfort and energy savings, designed with a mix of direct and indirect light. The color temperature is 3,000K and the color rendering is between 85-90 CRI. The lighting is controlled by the DALI system.

An important part of the project has been to design furniture that has evolved through communication about the customer's needs for form, function and aesthetics.

From a technical point of view, the biggest challenge of this project has been to transform an open space with 23 exposed structural pillars into a multi-space office with natural light, where the pillars have been made to visually disappear and the balance of an attractive and welcoming work environment has been achieved without sacrificing the functionality of the space.