Workshop is the new creative headquarters of Publicis Groupe, an international collection of 17 marketing, communications and digital transformation businesses, each with their own brand. The interior experience of Publicis Groupe in the new Workshop building, is an exploration of blurred boundaries: workplace and wellbeing; commercial office and hospitality space; and brand and authenticity.

The design of the project, for the disparate entities, has been realised by creating a ‘high street’ that wraps the central atrium on every level, and where each brand presents their identity in a ‘shopfront’ portal. Entry to each brand is through a backlit polycarbonate pavilion, containing finishes unique to the company that express the brand. These portals are formulated to be flexible as the business changes under the parent brand.

As a foil to this, the main circulation for staff between each agency address is through the atrium, which runs the full height of the building to connect the different floors and businesses, both visually and physically. This journey engages with a suspended garden and a striated timber ceiling and offers a counterpoint to the heavily branded shopfronts. At the atrium’s northern edge is a mixed mode space with an operable facade that can naturally ventilate staff breakouts. The breakouts encourage the cross-fertilisation of staff from different brands, bringing them together as one strong social community. The main work areas form two rectilinear flanks down either side of the building and showcase large, mullion-less, picture windows. The space is an authentic expression of the building’s structure, curated to provide an inspiring work environment.

While the individual agency shopfronts offer a very branded experience, the wintergarden spaces, interconnecting stair and nature-filled atrium offer genuine social connection for the tribe.

Furniture: Cult, Living Edge, Stylecraft, Ownworld, Jardan, Design Nation, Thonet, Simon James Design (District), Hub Furniture. Lighting: Bates Smart with Lightforce, Lightforce, Cult, Stylecraft. Finishes: By Joinery, Brickworks.

Photography: Anson Smart, Felix Mooneeram