Refurbishment of an old administrative building, very impersonal, narrow and deep.

The client needed to adapt the inside volume to the new use, a cowork space for social startups, a branch of the global company Impact Hub, with more than 100 offices in 50 countries.
The client asked for an inspiring place for its vibrant community, and we provided space for 180 people, plus gathering spaces and room for talks and events, distributed over 4 floors.

The challenge was to frame the collaborative spaces, the private and the shared uses in a welcoming and friendly ambience; the users normally stay long periods of time working and their dynamics are different than the traditional office ones, they have to be inspired by their workplace.

the aim has been to design a space with personality, linked with the tradition of the city and but focused on the new challenges of the workspace.

Also, to open the building through the neighbourhood, providing a wide inviting entrance hall in order to call neighbours to participate in the many activities programmed has been a great structural challenge intervening on the opaque existing facade.