The interior was designed for the company "Mezhregiontruboprovodstroy" (MRTS), whose specialization is the laying and reconstruction of underwater pipelines. The complex specifics of the customer's activities largely determined the nature of the project. The architects of the Arch group bureau were faced with the task of creating not just an office, but the face of the company, a space for work and inspiration for the entire MRTS project team.
The office with an area of just over 2,000 m² is located in a building in the south of Moscow and occupies the topmost, ninth floor. However, despite the panoramic glazing, it cannot boast of a good view from the windows - around residential buildings and industrial areas. Another problem is the initially unsuccessful layout with tiny offices, narrow corridors and a fixed position of the communication core. The architects proposed transforming such an irrationally used space into a modern and spacious open space, designed in a single style. They placed all work areas around the perimeter of the floor, closer to the light, while the central part was allocated for meeting rooms, offices, coffee points for employees and two reception areas.
A completely traditional and most comfortable layout has received a bold and non-standard design. The main idea of the project was the symbolic combination of the natural principle with the man-made one. As the authors Alexei Goryainov and Mikhail Krymov explain, they tried to play up the theme of "the eternal confrontation between nature and man," in which man finally learned to use the resources of the planet without harming it. This is how a contrasting combination of natural and man-made materials, natural and artificial colors, warm wood and cold metal or glass surfaces arose.
You can already feel the duality of the interior in the elevator hall, where the rich yellow walls of stemalite compete with the milky-matt horizontal planes of the ceiling and floor. A continuous line of recessed lights creates a soft glow throughout the room, reflected in the glossy glass surfaces. The thin line separating the snow-white floor from the yellow walls is highlighted in black, which makes it seem that the walls are not in contact with the floor. Black has become a symbol of the manufacturability of the process of mining and transportation of minerals. In contrast, yellow is associated with the sun and the sandy shore.
On both sides of the elevator hall there are two main office areas - MRTS Engineering and MRTS Holding. The reception, who meets at the entrance to the main workspace, plays with the nautical theme that is close to the office staff. A minimum of details, metal walls, a white floor and ceiling, a reception desk and pedestals for indoor plants, add up to an amazing picture: a snow-white ship against the backdrop of waterfalls. It seems that jets of water are continuously falling down, flickering in the sun, and the deck of the ship sways slightly on the waves. This effect is achieved thanks to the use of perforated alucobond in a silver shade with internal lighting for wall decoration. Round holes of different diameters, illuminated from the inside, even on closer inspection look like small drops and bubbles. The role of the ship is played by the Corian reception desk - multi-layered, smooth, smoothly growing out of the same white floor. Above it, like a reflection in water, there is a protruding ceiling structure, inside which lamps are hidden.
Corridors leading to the workplaces diverge on both sides of the reception. The corridors are designed in different ways, but very laconic and witty. So, with the help of a combination of two finishing materials, with which not parallel, but neighboring planes are sewn up, it is possible to completely distort and turn over the space, cutting it diagonally. The already familiar technique with perforated metal walls is repeated in the corridors. True, here the “bubbles and droplets” are hidden behind the second layer of glass, moreover, they do not have to be illuminated from the inside - there is enough natural light from the open space.
Several work areas are allocated on the floor, and each has its own character. The interior of the largest room, with an area of 480 m², again turns to the theme of the sea and ships. The space is built on the contrast of a bright blue floor, symbolizing the sea, and a voluminous white ceiling, which plays the role of the sky. The ceiling attracts the most attention due to the complex Corian structures that look like clouds. Long and wavy structures visually stretch the room, and, moreover, serve as a frame for lamps and absorb noise. One of them drops so low that it turns into a partition with provided storage places. Under the sagging structure, whose outlines again remind of sea vessels, there is a picturesque island with greenery. Thus, it is possible not only to diversify, but also to zone the space, making it more comfortable. Both the partition hanging from the ceiling and the ceiling itself are designed according to the author's drawings.
The complex ceiling in another open space is replaced by volumetric hexagonal lamps. As the authors explain, the hexagonal shape is the dominant feature of this space, it is repeated both in the pattern of the carpet made of multi-colored hexagons and in the design of the tables. For another, separate department, a more formal interior was created, built on the contrast of yellow and black. Here the leading position is occupied by glossy surfaces and strict geometric shapes.
The authors also found an original solution for meeting rooms. It should be noted that color in the office plays a leading role, all key rooms are highlighted with certain colors, which helps to easily navigate. For meeting rooms, as well as for the elevator hall, the color is yellow. A bright yellow glow is noticeable already from the corridor through the matte translucent walls. The glow creates a yellow carpet on the floor. The rest of the space seems restrained. Only lamps and a prismatic black wall protruding forward, the center of which is a large television screen, add futurism to it.
The second reception is located in front of the MRTS holding area, where the offices of the company's executives are located. Their interior with an emphasized status character is very different in style from the interior of the entire office. Therefore, the reception has become a kind of connecting, transitional link. Here, instead of modern and technological materials that dominate the interiors for employees, natural wood appears, forms become calmer, and furniture becomes traditional. All walls of the room are covered with wood, the reception is also wooden. Matt white and glossy black MDF panels only emphasize the noble texture of the wood.
Light plays a significant role in shaping the space: numerous spotlights are built into the ceiling, the walls are emphasized by linear illumination, which recreates the pattern of panels on wooden surfaces. The company logo is also illuminated at the reception desk. Another notable space in this part of the office is the main meeting room with a large panoramic window. The dominants here are a table made of white corian and an “island” of greenery in the center. There is a large square "window" on the ceiling made of MDF panels painted with glossy yellow paint.
The difficult and not too poetic activity of the customer inspired the architects to create a romantic and at the same time austere and practical interior, which has become the hallmark of the company. The authors are sure that the resulting multifaceted interior fully reflects the modernity of the company, its non-trivial approach to business, special attention to nature and advanced technologies. The employees, who recognized the new office as their second home, also agree with this.