Living Offices |S05E04| NEW WORK
Matosinhos, Portugal [Go to PT version]
Office File
Company: New Work SE
Location: Matosinhos, Portugal
Total Area: 3000 m2
Year: 2019
Capacity: 200 people
Industry: Internet Media & Services
Office Design: Utopia
NEW WORK SE appears on the market as a group that combines several services and products that help companies and their teams have a better life at work. The group has 10 brands, such as Xing, Kununu or Honeypot, which align around their vision — the future of work, more focused on people, and where they can find their true self and reach their full potential. In their vision, happiness is what leads to success for companies, and so they help to care for the work environment and promote acts of appreciation among collaborators.
From one startup, Ventureoak, in 2017 with 21 people, today they have grown to 150 and the need for space has doubled.
To arrive at the office, we pass by the sea shore in Matosinhos. We enter the office and are welcomed by friendly people who invite us to come in as if we were entering their home.
From the cozy reception area, with the comfort of a living room, we see to the inside of the office. The glass walls are a choice we will find to be a constant throughout the different spaces.
We enter the office and feel the transparency and light. At the same time there are enough spaces for work moments with more privacy. We see the open space and immediately realize that the colored blocks, like legos, create the division of the space.
When NEW WORK was faced with the challenge to grow and create this new office, everyone in the organisation was called to participate and share what they considered most important to work and live better here. The design of this space was thought out to meet the many ideas shared by everyone.
One of the challenges was to include enough meeting rooms, with different sizes, without taking more than a minute between the desk and these spaces! The answer was simple: to take advantage of the full potential of the space, below and above.
To divide the space into different areas for the teams, were created equidistant blocks arranged in parallel to create corridors. These blocks mark the office with color and meet the two main needs, shared by the people who work here: to have a cozy open space, and to have many meeting rooms. The carpeted floor with different shades of grey, help create paths.
There are two main views that show us different sides of this office. The top view, is where we see the colorful tops of the cubes, and which serve various purposes. In some of these spaces we will find cushioned benches and tables where you can be more isolated to work or chat more relaxed, open space with games or musical instruments for relaxing moments. To reach the top you just have to climb the stairs.
The choice of materials such as sponge coated with fabrics of various colors create more comfort, buffer noise and provide greater sound comfort throughout the office.
The other view, from the ground, shows the passageways in between the cub structures inside which there are meeting rooms of different sizes, equipped to receive two or more people, with whiteboards or monitors. The glass doors rooms guarantee simultaniously the needed privacy and contact with the rest of the work space.
In the space, solutions were created to facilitate the circulation between the teams that develop the different products, and thus provide more moments when people cross paths and use similar spaces.
With a larger space and with more work tables and standing desks, sound comfort is maintained by the choice of materials, such as carpet and fabric, and by the suspended rectangular panels that absorb noise and simultaneously serve as decoration.
The elements that remind us of the work culture are always present, and the coffee machine always nearby for those moments to pause and relax.
After walking through the space of parallel and perpendicular lines, we come to an area next to a large glass facade, which surprises us by the curved lines and the natural light. A view to a garden, and wave-like lines that tell us that something different is happening here.
With a draped wave-like iron structure, we find the pantry and entertainment area. The high tables and benches suggest that this is the right place for a break and a good conversation, or even a fun karaoke moment. If imagination has no limits, neither does this space.
With so many collaborators, a dining area with all the necessary commodities was also thought out. A large area, with a bigger pantry that serves all the teams. With refrigerators, microwaves and dishwashers, everything was prepared so that people can have meals in the office. There is also fresh fruit, cookies and coffee available for everyone.
This space is also multi-use. It was designed to serve both as a dining area and an auditorium. With furniture easy to move, this area is quickly transformed. Here are held company meetings, internal or external events.
What makes the auditorium even more special is the mural. The invitation to create this was made to a designer working at NEW WORK. She accepted the challenge to seek inspiration in the company’s culture, in the people and in the city where the company continues to grow.
Office space drawings
Sounds of the office
“For me, moving to this office was a very defining moment. I saw the company valuing everyone’s opinion. They asked what we wanted in the new space, if we would like to have a swing. It was great to see the concern in involving the collaborators and trying to make the new environment fit everyone’s shared ideas.” Luísa Seline
“For me, being here is like feeling at home. Here we have the possibility of being spontaneous. To ask someone if they want to come for a coffee, and it happens naturally.” Suleander Zahn
“We are like a community. We are several different people who share the same office, and we try to find a compromise between everyone in order to reach a good middle ground, an agreement. Each person respects his or her own part and works for the common good.” João Cunha
