Huawei’s smart offices in Rome have recently been inaugurated. They are designed by Progetto CMR, the integrated design company which had already implemented the offices in Milan.
“A walk in Rome” in the inspiring concept of the offices at Via Laurentina, the goal is to express both the identity of the company and the identity and historic heritage of the the “eternal city”.
And thanks to the Interface’s modular carpet tiles inspired by classic flooring the “walk” is more realistic, indeed.
The integration between the identity of the Chinese multinational company and the distinctive features of Rome is the main concept inspiring Progetto CMR.
Smart working and smart offices approaches are the pillars of the spaces that accommodate over 440 employees.
The layout of the workplace, which occupies three floors above ground, includes flexible areas for mixed use, adaptable to the different needs of the organization, together with open plan offices alternating desks, meeting rooms and hubs to allow both inclusive and collective activities.
The main hub, the “Piazza”, is inspired by the symmetrical and rational shapes of the classical tradition, with arches and vertical lines.
Even the modular carpet tiles – Human Connections Collection by Interface designed by David Oakey – featured by a pattern similar to porphyry cubes, aims to create an effect of resonance with the original Roman paving.
In some key areas like ground floor, reception and elevator lobbies, the modular textile carpet – Human Nature Collection by Interface– takes on the appearance of stoneware to remember the elegance of the city’s marble neighbourhoods.
The chromatic design alternates the purity of like-marble white- used for wall coverings and boiserie – with the warmer shades of gray of textile flooring and the red of acoustic curtains for Huddle rooms, a clear reminder of the purple drapery of tradition.
The heritage of the city is also present in the graphics that decorate the boiserie consisting of wooden pilasters and glass walls.
The main urban references (Piazza San Pietro, Piazza del Popolo, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum) were reproduced with a very detailed hand work in the main spaces: elevator lobbies, reception, break area.
Of course, much of the space, especially on the wall, is devoted to technology, with a large video wall in the reception and monitors in every lift lobbies and in the corridors of the open plan offices.
