Ualá II

Designing workspaces always requires reflecting on how activity and work are conceived. Architecture has much to contribute to users' quality of life. With this premise, we approached the project for Ualá's second offices.

The project is organized into two large areas connected by a corridor and a courtyard that acts as a green lung. Based on the client's programmatic requirements and the inherent conditions of the site —a former industrial shed in Palermo—, the total area was divided into two levels according to use. A reception area leads into a large double-height workspace organized around work islands.

The exposed structure establishes a balance between the old building and the new intervention. Black corrugated metal provides a contemporary contrast to the rough concrete, while the roof structure, painted white, is subtly separated from the existing fabric by darker tones. This chromatic shift makes the transition between old and new legible.

The main room accommodates 60 workstations, all overlooking an outdoor courtyard with a vertical garden and abundant natural light. A continuous skin of stained timber boards wraps the walls and ceiling, concealing beams as well as electrical and mechanical services.

As in the first office, the building includes an area for informal meetings and relaxation. It was designed as a honeycomb wall whose niches create usable spaces defined by three materials: wood, glass and iron.

The selection of finishes and furniture seeks simplicity and visual calm through noble materials. Together with the study of direct, indirect and natural light, and the mechanical conditions, these decisions create the comfort required for a contemporary workplace.