I’m a firm believer that our surroundings can have a huge impact on our mental and physical wellbeing, particularly when it comes to our workspace – after all, it’s where we spend a significant portion of our lives. After two years of freelancing I now have a good sense of my own work rhythms and routines, and I’m in the middle of rejigging my little home office to create an environment that reflects the way I function best. I’ve been taking lots of inspiration from commercial offices and studios that have been designed with productivity, creativity and happiness in mind, and one such place is the Copenhagen HQ of Danish brand Muuto.
Spread across the upper three floors of a building on one of the city’s main shopping streets, it was recently renovated and expanded in collaboration with spatial design studio Briq. I was lucky enough to have a tour during 3 Days of Design back in May, and I absolutely loved it. Not only is the whole place decorated beautifully, it’s also full of clever ideas that can be applied to other workspaces, big or small.
The redesign was prompted by a need to find more space for Muuto’s growing team, which was previously crammed into a single floor. But it also provided an opportunity for the brand to demonstrate how its pieces can be used in real-life settings, as design director Christian Grosen explains:
“We wanted to create something that would serve as a functional workplace for our employees, while communicating the values and ideas of the Muuto universe. We also wanted to explore the blurring lines between workplace and showroom, allowing us to welcome retailers, architects, dealers and the press into our world and emphasising how our furniture, lighting and accessories are suitable for different contexts.”
Central to Muuto’s approach was a belief that our senses activate our intelligence, and that spaces should therefore be functionally, aesthetically and biologically pleasing. It was also important to embrace the different ways that people work throughout the day, and provide facilities for everything from formal meetings to solo work sessions to informal social encounters.
Another key factor was accommodating the individual needs of the various departments within Muuto. “We paid a lot of attention to the workflows of each team,” says Christian. “The design department needs the ability to move around easily and test new products, while the people in marketing have a lot of collaborative sessions. The supply-chain and finance teams, meanwhile, spend a lot of time at their desks. Investigating the different flows allowed the interior design to be informed by the workings and mechanics of each department.”
The result is a series of activity-based zones that play on colour, texture and materials to create different atmospheres. Some are cosy spaces painted in deep greens and terracotta reds, others lighter and airier zones decorated in lemon yellow and pale pink.
On the lower of the three floors is the showroom, backed by a series of glass-walled meeting rooms that range from large boardroom-style areas to lounge-like ones where staff can gather for more relaxed chats. The floors above contain the office spaces, with different departments occupying zones with higher or lower footfall according to their preferences.
Dotted around are quieter nooks where people can retreat when they need to concentrate, think or make phone calls. Some take the form of booths with tables, lamps and chairs; others feature Muuto’s cocooning ‘Outline Highback’ work chair, which acts as an acoustic and spatial shelter within public settings and incorporates a laptop table, storage shelf and cable outlet. There are also lots of sociable spaces, including a cafe-style corner in the showroom, a large canteen where people can gather for lunch, and a roof terrace looking out over the city.
Throughout are leafy plants, soft furnishings, low-hanging pendant lamps and beautifully curated displays of books and artwork, creating a welcoming atmosphere that’s far removed from the stereotypical idea of a sterile office environment. I also love the way that sheer curtains have been hung from tracks in the ceilings, allowing larger areas to be partitioned or opened up as needed.
All in all, it’s a fantastic example of a considered workplace that’s centred around staff needs. What do you think? Could you see yourself working here?
Muuto’s new-season designs
While I’m on the subject of Muuto, they’ve just released details of their new-season designs and I can’t resist sharing a few of my favourites.
First up is the ‘Strand’ pendant lamp, created by British designer Benjamin Hubert. It’s made from lots of tiny strands sprayed onto a steel frame and has a sleek yet playful expression. It comes in three different shapes, all supported on a delicate PVC-covered wire that makes them look like clouds floating in the air.
Next is the sculptural ‘Halves’ side table, designed by Toronto-based MSDS Studio. Crafted from a unique combination of acrylic and stone, it’s welded together before being grinded and polished, ensuring a seamless surface with no visible joints. It comes in three colours – sand, grey and sage green – and works brilliantly as a side table, pedestal or nightstand.
Other furniture launches that caught my eye include Anderssen & Voll’s simple yet incredibly versatile ‘Echo’ pouf and their ‘Doze’ armchair and ottoman, which reference 1970s design and look sink-into comfy.
New accessories come in the form of the ‘Layer’ and ‘Twine’ cushions and ‘Ripple’ and ‘Ample’ throws, all woven from super-soft Bolivian llama wool by sustainable Copenhagen brand Aiayu and available in a range of gorgeous hues. I also love Helsinki-based Studio Kaksikko’s ceramic ‘Ridge’ vases, which come in terracotta and off-white. Their grooved sides and subtle dent remind me of corrugated cardboard packaging, and they look beautiful even when empty.
Finally, there are additions to a few existing Muuto ranges, including ceramic versions of the iconic ‘Dot’ hooks, new colours for the ‘Leaf’ lamp series and ‘Restore’ felt storage baskets, and new variants of the versatile ‘Folded’ shelves.
You can see all the new designs here.
All photography via Muuto
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