Corporate Offices (Under 10,000 sqm)

MVRDV’s post-pandemic office interior redesign for Shopify Berlin

Located on Köpenicker Strasse in the Berlin-Mitte district, the 1,000 sq m space is designed to contrast home offices, with a focus on collaboration

by Nav Pal 23 August 2022

The project provides the Canadian-founded commerce company an ideal design for its rethink of the purpose of its physical workspaces.

The planned renovation of Shopify’s office building was underway when the start of the pandemic hit, and with it a sudden switch to working from home that caused the company to rethink what it needed from its office. Acknowledging that focused individual work is best completed remotely, Shopify brought MVRDV on board for a redesign that maximises the building’s potential as a base for working collaboratively with others, brainstorming new ideas, and engaging in the company’s culture.

The interior design primarily occupies the ground floor and basement levels, as well as prime spaces up to the sixth floor. It comprises three on-site rooms, which serve as the main meeting rooms, as well as a variety of experience rooms used for company gatherings, casual work environments, and more specific atmospheres. Wherever possible, the design takes a sustainable approach of reusing elements from the previous half built renovation, making use of everything from wall and floor finishes to lighting fixtures and furniture. For example, 100% of the lighting fixtures were purchased prior to MVRDV's design.

In addition to the typical conference table, each of the on-site rooms is embellished with a colour lounge, an adjacent space separated by a curtain that provides a more comfortable environment for free flowing discussions. The colours of these lounges, like the colours throughout the design, are based on the visual identity of Shopify.

The project celebrates Shopify culture as well as the Berlin cityscape, providing a visual reminder of the things that make the city an exciting place to live and work. The reception desk makes use of blue-green metro tiles, a reference to U-Bahn stations, while the opposite wall features the art piece Intersections by Carolyna Amaya, recalling the city’s street art.

The experience rooms include a Volkspark and Baumgarten, used for lunches and company gatherings, which are filled with plants provided by Plant Club. Downstairs is the club, referencing Berlin’s nightlife, which provides a space for events or casual socialising surrounded by a continuous screen on the walls. Also found downstairs is the secret room, a private meeting space with a clandestine atmosphere, perfect for breaking out of the day-to-day mindset in more high-stakes work projects.

Architect: MVRDV

Location: Germany Berlin

Award: Sector Commercial

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