Nuanced classicism for modern-day office living

By Editorial Staff - 5 September 2022
Egger has participated in the project

Twenty-five years ago, Gilles August and Olivier Debouzy founded the August Debouzy law firm, practicing public law. Today, it employs 250 people, including 30 partners. To cater to the firm’s expected growth in coming years, the company chose to move its headquarters to a magnificent art deco building in Paris’s 8^tharrondissement, on Rue de Téhéran. Surrounded by typical, listed, Parisian Haussmann-style buildings and private residences, the building’s street façade and inner courtyards retained their 1927 appearance, even if over the years the various companies that have worked in the building transformed its interior.

Studio Legale August Debouzy - Simone Bossi, courtesy Studio Razavi Architecture L’uso dei materiali e il trattamento della luce differenziano i percorsi destinati ai clienti e ai dipendenti; corridoi e zone filtro accentuano questa separazione, leggermente accennata ma di grande effetto.

Studio Razavi Architecture’s renovation of the interior created spaces that, in a composed and elegant manner, convey the law firm’s image and founding values. The architects achieved this by giving the interiors the imprint of a nuanced form of classicism reminiscent of modern style, postwar-period workplaces, particularly the 1960s, not only in recognition of this timeless style but to convey a calming, soothing design that showcases the company’s humility and, at the same time, its strength. Choice of materials, shapes and light modulation communicate this message through the interior design.

Studio Legale August Debouzy - Simone Bossi, courtesy Studio Razavi Architecture Gli spazi richiamano l’atmosfera degli uffici tipici degli anni Sessanta: uno stile che non segue i trend del momento e che comunica al cliente la solidità e la forza della Compagnia.

Spatially, the design adapted the building to new office-world use by rethinking spatial flows and hierarchies and enhancing the two patios. The ground floor houses reception areas and a number of meeting rooms. Higher levels, from floors two to six, are dedicated workspaces – offices, common areas and meeting rooms – culminating in the top floor, which has been transformed from a private management space to an area open to all employees.

The design approach focused particularly on reception and client management. Consistent client and employee pathways are differentiated through the use of a variety of spatial sequences – corridors and filter rooms – and subtle variations in materials and light.

Studio Legale August Debouzy - Simone Bossi, courtesy Studio Razavi Architecture Le soluzioni acustiche adottate consentono di attutire ogni rumore, dal soffitto al pavimento. Il controsoffitto acustico modulare a griglia è un elemento utilizzato anche per creare linearità e motivi che conferiscono ai diversi spazi un’estetica propria.

Clients embark upon a journey punctuated by artworks designed specifically for each space, starting with the ground-level hall where visitors are welcomed by twin statues, a samurai on the left and an owl on the right, symbolizing the firm’s founders, Gilles August and Olivier Debouzy. Noble materials such as American elm, lacquered steel and marble, cozy shapes and warm, muted colors convey serenity, in an atmosphere where absolute silence reigns because all noise is instantly muffled by the acoustic solutions adopted.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Research was conducted into the rooms to combine workplace well-being with productivity, facilitating dialogue among staff while respecting client privacy and welcoming the public to a location full of significance.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | The ground-floor, double-height reception hall is flooded with natural zenithal light, which spreads evenly throughout the room to create a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | The use of materials and how light is treated differentiate client and employee pathways; corridors and filter zones accentuate this separation, which although merely hinted at is highly impressive.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Two dining rooms and a venue for law firm receptions and events were carved out on the top floor.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Previously reserved for management, the top floor was converted back into employee-accessible space. A number of terraces offer views over the Eiffel Tower and city rooftops for staff during breaktimes.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Intimate, quiet meeting rooms encourage relationships and confidential conversation.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Filter zones on each floor are organized as relaxation areas, but may easily be converted back into offices to cater to the law firm’s growing staff.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | In an off-trend style that communicates the company’s solidity and strength to customers, these spaces evoke a typical 1960s office atmosphere.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | Acoustic solutions adopted for the floors and ceilings succeed in muffling all noise. The modular acoustic grid ceiling is an element that creates linearity and patterns, imbuing the various spaces with their own esthetic.

August Debouzy Offices - Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture | This project uses laminates from the Egger Decorative Collection, coatings for horizontal and vertical surfaces that may be glued to a wide range of substrates – chipboard, MDF – with excellent support for medium- to high-loads. Ranging from saffron yellow through beige to blue and platinum white, the selected hues give the interior an appealing and characterful design.

Location: Paris, France
Clients: August Debouzy, PGIM
Completion: 2021
Gross Floor Area: 6,542 m²
Interior Designer: Studio Razavi Architecture
Construction Project Managers: Builders & Partners, Hauteur Libre

Consultants
Plant Equipment: CAT Ingénierie, ERTEM International, Atixis
Acoustics: Meta
Safety: BTP Consultants

Photography: Simone Bossi, courtesy of Studio Razavi Architecture

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