What makes this project one-of-a-kind?
Timisoara was the first European city to have electric public lighting and second in the world afterNewYork.
Its citizens and Romanians in general are extremely proud of this hence we gave special attention to lighting as it is a usually one of the least taken care aspects in office design even if it is one of the most important.
CONCEPT:
Timisoara was the first European city to have electric public lighting and second in the world after New York.
We will give special attention to lighting as it is usually one of the least taken care aspects in office design even if it is one of the most important. Especially here, in Timisoara.
Not only this , we will try to use ELBA (the 100 years old Timisoara lighting fixtures factory) products: functional and decorative ones as well as historic ones in the representative areas.
Bring natural textures. A rhythm (rhythm is life) of wooden battens creates fields of various textures and colors on the partitions and core walls. (because of the span of the building, we can’t have rooms or furniture on these so we are left with lots of blank walls). We chose natural textures with tactile and acoustic qualities: cork, plywood, acoustic felt)
The colors are subdued, earth tones, away from the strong ones. The bare concrete will stay exposed on pillars and ceiling.
Same battens are used to “break” the big surfaces of glass. (glass is pleasant when fragmented in smaller fields, when in big surface, the reflections become annoying, distorted and, depending on the lighting and time of day, have a “black mirror distorted effect”. People on both sides of big surfaces of glass feel exposed. The moment the surface is “broken” into pieces, the feeling is pleasant and sheltering.
Doors are solid, ash veneered as solid doors feel more intimate than glass ones (associated with a homey environment and glass with corporate or public one). They are also easier and cheaper to be acoustic and fire proof.
Romanian products and design items could be used in the common areas: UBIKUBI furniture, ELBA or Greentek lighting, etc.
Wood battens are used to “break” the big surfaces of glass. (glass is pleasant when fragmented in smaller fields, when in big surface, the reflections become annoying, distorted and, depending on the lighting and time of day, have a “black mirror distorted effect”. People on both sides of big surfaces of glass feel exposed. The moment the surface is “broken” into pieces, the feeling is pleasant and sheltering.
Micorsoft Offices in Globalworth Tower:
ONE STEP FURTHER:
As a nuanced evolution from the Timisoara Concept, we toned down the colors and instead enriched the natural textures.
About authors:
Corvin Cristian
CCS is an award winning design and architecture practice specialized in hospitality projects, office spaces and retail. Since 2012 CCS joined international team Theleisureway in developing innovative design solutions for the changing retail environment with an emphasis on public spaces in shopping malls around the world.
CCS was founded in 2002 by Corvin Cristian, a designer trained as architect who worked for a decade as production designer and art director for feature films while also designing exhibition pavilions, scenography for tv commercials and shows, clubs, bars and restaurants.
FILE:
Authors: Corvin Cristian Studio; Claudiu Bica, Adrian Oancea, Gabriela Rosca, Alina Stoica, Alia Al Jabbari, Ana MAlaianu, Vlad Hani
Client: Microsoft Romania
Photos: Corvin Cristian
Location: Bucharest & Timisoara
Year of completion: 2019
Total area (m2): 1000 sqm Timisoara 900 sqm Bucharest
Text provided by the authors of the project.