Design in Search of Nature

MIND Village, part of MIND (the Milano Innovation District), is a hub for visionary businesses and companies, an international village that brings together research, laboratories and coworking against the backdrop of a modern, sustainable and innovative place for work and play.

Set to rise on the former Milan Expo 2015 site, this city within a city will be unique anywhere in Europe, combining residences, leading public interest enterprise headquarters, large parks and community services.

AstraZeneca’s new headquarters is one of the first to have settled on MIND Village. Tétris Design x Build’s design was conceived to re-functionalize one of the pavilions, transforming it into a working environment that enhances brand identity, promotes sustainability and respect for the planet, and fosters healthy living. 

The two-level, 3,000-sq. m office space was designed to be fluid and encourage inclusiveness, offering an open space approach, multifunctional work areas, sliding partitions, and environments that flow into one another. Enhancing the DNA of the existing building, the project retained its load-bearing wooden structure while introducing biophilia-related elements, natural materials and organic forms that highlight the relationship between man and nature.

Large perimeter windows flood the rooms with natural light. The outdoor area adjacent to the building fosters communication inside and out, generating a sense of peace and tranquility among visitors. Divided by functional area, the office spaces span two floors. Each area is defined by the furnishings, lighting fixtures, plants, sliding curtains that allow for isolation or to foster connections between rooms, and curved glass windows that maintain visual continuity between the various different areas. On the ground floor, visitors are immediately greeted by a reception area that acts as the filter for the entire space, flowing into a break area that has a cafeteria vibe to it, a more intimate area with meeting rooms, and finally the Concentration zone, the floor’s intimate heart, recalling the atmosphere of a library. In counterpoint, the Celebration area on the opposite side of the building is a single, large space that may be divided into four smaller rooms through packable partitions, including portable elements like monitors on wheels and modular, reconfigurable furniture.

The upper floor is dedicated to operational activities and individual work. Here, employees choose among a variety of work areas rather than having a fixed workstation. Everything in the space fosters a flexible lifestyle to keep pace with people’s changing needs throughout the day.

The AstraZeneca headquarters promotes employee well-being through organic, inclusive and sustainable architecture.

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AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

Omnitex curtains were used to divide the open space into functional zones, both a curled version with a system suspended from the ceiling using cords in wave-style, very high acoustic performance fabric, along with chain-pull Verosol Enviroscreen 802 G3 Optimum roller blinds in high thermo-optical performance, heat-reflective fabric.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

VetroIn manufactured the glass partitions for the private rooms within the open spaces, specifically the double-glazed version of LightWall because its sleek, linear design adds character to a room while also providing excellent acoustic performance. VetroIn works closely with designers to ensure solutions that cater to every project’s esthetic and functional needs.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

Greenery is integrated extensively into the space: planters hang from the ceiling by the large wall that forms a backdrop to the reception area, while others are integrated into the furniture to improve air quality and create a regenerative mental atmosphere.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

The second level houses more operational zones, once again organized by type: more traditional individual work zones, collaborative zones, pods for individual focus, phone booths to make calls, focus rooms, and small informal lounge areas for a quick chat.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

Selected specifically to convey different emotions, color deployment defines the different functional areas: a pastel-toned palette in quieter areas, accents of color in areas for socialization.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

The interior design follows biophilic and green design principles to create a comfortable and relaxing environment.

AstraZeneca Offices - © Davide Galli, courtesy Tétris Design x Build

The existing building’s LEED Gold-certified envelope features large windows attached to load-bearing wooden elements. Perimeter terrace overhangs provide pleasant outdoor spaces, encouraging interaction between nature and the interior.

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