studio banana fill mccann worldgroup's madrid office with multi-functional 'huts'

creative agency studio banana have worked alongside mccann worldgroup madrid to create a new, radically collaborative workspace as part of the company’s ‘vision 2021’. the main goal throughout the project was to create an environment supportive of innovative work dynamics adapted to the renewed ethos of the brand.

the global advertising agency approached studio banana to aid them in supporting this transition, embarking on an experimental co-design journey that would see MWG’s creative and executive team work in concert with studio banana’s team of architects, product & graphic designers, workplace strategists and communication experts. the resultant office space is a holistic project where all aspects of design are highly integrated at multiple levels.  

three of the four floors of the factory were colonized with huts, creating a new dynamism in the space

set in a 1950s textile factory, the project strips the host building down to its bare essentials. preserving its industrial feel as scenic backdrop, the plan subsequently colonizes its three floors (6.200 m2 / 66.700 sqft) through a strategy of built ‘huts’ (harboring private offices, meeting rooms, project rooms, teleconferencing rooms etc) that punctuate the space and delineate carefully-sized open plan areas. each of the huts hosts a unique project team, supporting the sought out cohesiveness and collaborative work culture of the brand. filling a variety of different forms, shapes and functions, the huts serve as creative hot houses, with contrasting alignments differentiating the assorted uses of the rooms. 

the in-between spaces have been enlivened to boost spontaneous interactions

the dichotomy between the huts and open plan areas generates a fluid circulation concept and an array of flexible, multi-use spaces. these ‘in-between’ areas are enlivened in order to boost chance encounters and serendipitous moments of collaboration. in addition to this, some of the huts’ walls are appropriable (covered in whiteboard, transformed into a ‘cabinet of curiosity’, or turned into a brandable interfaces etc.) allowing the collaborators to use them freely and integrate them in their work dynamics. the raw, unfinished presentation of the space frequently pays homage to its textile roots, as carpets and tiles create accent areas throughout, exhibiting a combination of unbridled energy and relaxed comfort. 

every project team has a specific area, defined by the position of the huts around it

every hut has a different nature regarding its use (private office, meeting room, teleconference booth, etc)

the main construction material used in the project is laminated timber

the general atmosphere was carefully oriented around the tasks developed in each area

each area in the new proposal has a specific character that relates to the teams that use it

some of the huts’ walls are appropriable, allowing the employees to use them in their daily routines

the space plays host to over 550 collaborators

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: peter corboy | designboom