Balancing Aesthetics, Functionality, and Sustainability in DLA Piper’s Oslo Office

With offices around the world DLA Piper champions certain shared ideals with all its teams to collectively promote the company values with a daring, collaborative, exceptional and committed attitude, in which sustainability is front and centre. Values that should be reflected in all workspaces, thinking as much about employees as company clients, “from which emerges the need to create warm and professional atmospheres,” in their words.

The Oslo office within the Norwegian capital is one of the most recently opened DLA Piper headquarters, and what better option to develop your interior design project than to work with I-d Interior architecture & Design, located in the same city. In addition, the designers share an interest in spaces that can calm, inspire and bring people together based on sustainable design, where “creativity and responsibility to create solutions that last, adapt to future needs and put the environment at the centre,” are combined according to the Norwegian practice.

Nordic style design inspired the development of the project which is reflected in the meeting rooms and other spaces of the new offices, as well as in the subtle selection of quality materials and the colour scheme that provide a singular but coherent sensation. These spaces display private art collections and other personalised decorative elements, such as the Giles Scott red phone box, collected objects that have been reused and which as well as adding personality and creativity, reduce waste and support sustainability.

The modus operandi of the interior design practice for projects connected with workspaces begins with an exhaustive analysis of the company’s needs, work routines and objectives. And that data serves to provide a solid base for designing solutions that inspire and strengthen not only individual productivity but the overall efficiency of the team within environments that add value to the company. And as part of these solutions the light fittings lead the way in the creation of atmospheres of wellbeing that every workspace requires to bolster its intended use, as well as being able to adapt over the day “because our circadian rhythms are mostly marked by light which regulates our physical and mental wellbeing.”

The Norwegian practice chose three collections from Vibia to illuminate the spaces: Plusminus, Tempo Wall and Knit Pendant

No other lighting system comes close to Plusminus from Diez Office in terms of versatility, thanks to its lighting rail, whose fabric belt incorporates the electrical conduit. This provides the creative freedom which translates into a varied aesthetic, taking into account the adaptability of the various models, and playing with the heights.

And in an area as serious as the legal sector, this lighting system can break with the traditional approach in this type of space, providing a more informal way of lighting the elongated worktable for instance. In addition, the choice of colour is also decisive in this project, both for the belt and the light fittings, matching the terracotta tone of the ceiling, allowing the visual integration of the upper central plane of the space. This tone invites contemplation, and provides a warmth and comfort which, at the same time, connects with our innermost selves, with that which is most essential.

And then there is the Tempo lamps, a design by Lievore Altherr, that occupy vertical planes providing two adjustable arm versions and three models of hand-blown glass diffusers to choose from.

The disc shaped bulb was selected for this project to light the different spaces, respectively; in black, more serious and elegant in appearance, placed near the office entrance, and in Terra Red, less formal, placed over bar style tables with matching stools.

And last but not least, there’s the large meeting space used for get-togethers composed of three different zones defined by the configuration of the furniture as well as the large panoramic exterior windows that showcase several of the hanging Knit lamps. Perfectly aligned.

The model suggests sensations of warmth and comfort made palpable through the glow of the fabric which almost appears to embrace the light, floating in an ambience of order and calm. Designed by Meike Harde, Knit is the perfect solution chosen by interior designers looking for high quality materiality and charisma to illuminate an interior, with a somewhat feminine quality that inspires the soft protective shell of its design.

When an international company such as DLA Piper commissions an interior design practice to develop its workspaces where lighting plays a critical role in the creation of different atmospheres it is clearly valuing the importance of lighting wellbeing at different times throughout the day within a company, from relaxation to concentration, through working and social activities.

Credits:
– Project by: I-d. Interior architecture & Design
– Photography: Dag Sandven

Featured Products:
– Plusminus
– Tempo
– Knit