sculptural spiral staircase dominates kering group’s new offices in mexico by fr·ee

fr·ee was commissioned by the global luxury group, kering who manages a series of renowned houses in fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and watches, to design their new offices in mexico city. the goal was to create a space that was both dynamic and calm while ensuring the comfort, safety, and wellness of employees. the concept was designed hand in hand with the director of kering americas laurent claquin, whose minimalist and sober vision of pure materials was always the focus of the design.

entrance
all images courtesy of fr·ee

the main goal of fr·ee was to achieve maximum comfort for the staff working at the offices by taking into consideration the thermal, light, and acoustic comfort. the building hosts two levels and welcomes natural lighting throughout, illustrating kering’s commitment to a healthier work environment. it is anchored by a sculptural helicoidal staircase, which serves as a focal and main design element that can be seen from anywhere from the office. interior partitions of the offices are constructed of transparent and curved glass at their corners, which creates a bold, dynamic contrast to the neutral interior.

offices

the materials chosen for the office include wood, concrete, and glass, and are complemented by the soft and natural color palette made of black, white, grey, and beige. the minimalist and monochromatic style of the office welcomes employees and visitors to a dynamic and open space. the kering team sought to have a space where their employees could work at ease, with lots of light but also offering moments of privacy.

lounge area

‘our brief was to create a site that captures the essence of luxury and exclusivity that characterize kering’s brands, and we did so by developing a timeless, elegant and sustainable architectural proposal.‘ says the director and founder fernando romero. the architects used many materials from mexico making the design more authentic. these materials include the ‘recinto’ stone; a volcanic stone coming from an area near mexico city, the ‘chukum’ finish on the walls; it comes from the bark of a tree that can be found in yucatan, and is a technique originated in mayan culture. in addition, the majority of the décor, such as the furniture pieces were created by mexican artisans and designers such as mola, fraga, la metropolitana, and veta, among others.

helical staircase top view

with sustainability at the heart of kering’s mission, the offices were designed for a LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) gold certification, a green building certification program used worldwide. some of the aspects that were considered in the project to be able to get the certification included air recirculation, finishes, adhesives and sealants, indoor acoustic insulation, ventilation systems, views to the exterior, and lighting codes. the final product is a very elegant, sober, and sophisticated project, with neutral colors and the simplicity of the lines alongside its leed gold certification making it a perfect fit with kering’s policy: ‘luxury and sustainability are one and the same’

private areas

helical staircase frontal view

project info:

name: kering

architect: fr-ee fernando romero enterprises

location: mexico city

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: yasmina karam | designboom