Following sustained and successful growth, the Rubber Soul Headquarters turned inward to celebrate their brand and success with a new “Home for Work” office concept. Doubling down on their easy-going product style and culture, the layout of the office revolved around the idea of interactive corporate neighborhoods tied together in a central location. With private offices set as individual houses in an otherwise open and collaborative warehouse-style floorplan, the space offers places for social gatherings, individual work, and team building. By leveraging different elevations often seen in residential neighborhoods and incorporating living walls throughout the space, Rubber Soul Headquarters brought the outside in, mimicking that neighborhood feel.

This created challenges when it came time to illuminate the space. The large warehouse plan needed to be filled, but not overfilled, with light. Individual work areas received carefully designed task lighting to supplement. The real challenge came when working with the platforms for the office-houses and living walls. Through the strategic use of contrast, what would have been harsh shadows under platforms and extreme bright spots for the plants turned into an overall comfortable and pleasant environment for the occupants while accommodating all of the different space needs. This design was not only strategic but sustainable as well, beating IECC code by 27%.

The client wanted an open, airy feel and lighting helped to carry that aesthetic throughout the space. Following the simple and modern design approach, the focus became on the architecture, artwork, and experience within the space. Some decorative pendants were included to help with place-setting, and large acoustic lighting fixtures were strategically placed to dampen the sound in key locations, like conference rooms. Overall, the project was all about highlighting the architecture and creating a pleasant experience for those working within.

Client: Venture Architecture
Photography Credit:
Lighting Design, Sustainable Design, Commercial Work Space