DA Architects

NN Оffice Sofia team: Yuri Tanov + Zdravka Nistorova + Martin Ryashev photos: Minko Minev video: shortSHOTS

OFFICE OF THE YEAR 2024 in Bulgaria - first prize of Dibla Design Award

Concept

The project for the new office of the largest Danish pharmaceutical company in Sofia aims to transform the working structure of the Bulgarian branch by creating a more efficient environment that encourages collaboration and teamwork. The habits of employees who have worked in a traditional office setup for over 15 years, along with their mindset toward the upcoming major change, motivated us to develop a model to make this transformation meaningful, seamless, and emotionally positive. At the same time, we aimed to reflect the modern specifics of the company's profile and enhance both the comfort and efficiency of its employees. To achieve this, we created a contemporary office that provides the necessary spaces for interaction among employees, combined with zones where one can feel comfortable and cozy—like in their own "personal" space. This ensures a smooth transition to working in open spaces, with a flexible approach to utilizing the various zones by each employee.

Balance and Unity

The workplace of an international company embodies a mix of diverse characteristics and values. On one hand, there is the Scandinavian origin of a company with over 100 years of history and a distinct profile in the pharmaceutical sector; on the other hand, there is the vibrant southern character of the Bulgarian employees. The new office combines the strengths of these two leading influences, emphasizing clean, bright forms, minimalist design, and extensive use of white, complemented by industrial elements from the building’s structure and installations. These are skillfully intertwined with pastel color accents, open, fluid spaces, and cozy, soft areas rich in textiles, felt, and wood.

Flexibility and Flow

Just as every individual has their own personality and every position within a company requires different skills, a well-designed workspace must fulfill the needs of all employees, enabling them to succeed in reaching their goals. To achieve this, we provided five basic spatial concepts: the reception and common area, spaces for different types of work, meeting areas, collaboration zones, and relaxation areas. Distributed evenly throughout the office and alternating along the main circulation path, these zones allow employees to effortlessly transition between different work modes, share experiences, and communicate with colleagues. These areas often overlap, creating diverse, semi-enclosed niches for one or two people within the open space.

Human Scale

At the heart of any interior space lies the human experience—shaped by perception, movement, and needs. The correct structuring the size of the teams, building the connections between them and the conscious alternation and separation of zones for various activities, consistent with ergonomics and good practices, allow the creation of human-scale spaces that break up the long 60-meter plan of the building.

Natural Light

For many years, well-designed office layouts were defined by ensuring natural light for workstations. However, with the evolution of modern workspaces and the rise of remote work opportunities, the criteria for a quality office have shifted—natural light alone is no longer sufficient. To be valuable, attractive, and actively used by employees, every key zone must have good access to natural light and views. In the NN office, we positioned the collaboration and social interaction areas in the most desirable parts of the building, with direct access to terraces and views of the green courtyard and the mountains, without compromising the standard workstations. In this way, the design solution reflects the company's values in terms of equality, care for people and nature, and the implementation of best work practices.

Work Comfort

By structuring the spaces into smaller, reorganized zones, we maintain the visual connection between them while simultaneously providing better acoustic separation. The careful selection of sound-absorbing elements for each area creates a distinctive appearance and atmosphere, tailored to the specific needs of the space. In this way, we address the functional requirements for a quiet and private environment while also shaping the space visually. A key focus is ergonomics, achieved through high-quality chairs, with all workstations equipped with height-adjustable desks. In collaboration with the client, we analyzed work typologies and allocated the zones accordingly, enabling people to frequently and comfortably change their working positions and surroundings. This ensures improved physical and mental well-being throughout the entire workday.

Colors and Shapes

The careful selection of color tones, integrated into the office’s color code, supports more intuitive navigation throughout the layout. Zones designated for focused work are styled in cooler tones, while areas for dynamic tasks, collaboration, and communication feature warmer, more energetic colors. The shapes within the office follow the natural flow of movement. Orthogonal acoustic elements are present in the work areas, while oval and more unconventional forms define the collaboration and social zones. The fluid nature of the volumes and the rounded shapes provide a balanced sense of privacy and smooth transitions between zones. Circulation paths, highlighted by linear lighting running along the entire length of the office, form a kind of backbone for the entire structure. This cohesive design ensures both functionality and aesthetic harmony.

User Experience

The new office was embraced exceptionally quickly and easily by the employees. The planning and design choices in the interior created an intuitive way of use that was naturally adopted without the need for additional training. From day one, people utilized the new spaces with a smile, free from concerns about the change, discovering how much more comfortable and practical the new work zones are, and how much more social and effective work can be in the new office.

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