T-Mobile: From closed offices to flexible open space

Locality

Tomíčkova 2144/1

Client

T-Mobile Czech Rep.

Area

3 400 sqm

Realization

12/2O19

Besides a fresh new design, the reconstruction of the offices completely transformed the character of the workplace of the largest Czech telecom operator – from small enclosed rooms to an open plan with a zoning system. CAPEXUS oversaw the entire project
and was able to hand over the approved space with all the details just five months after the first sketches were created, and did so while
the premises remained in full operation. Take a look at the final interior, where sharing, teamwork and focused individual activity all work
in harmony.

The squares motif can be seen in the T-Mobile offices, not only in the form of acoustic hanging panels, but also on the floor

Design & build saves time and money

In its office transformation project T-Mobile fully benefited from the design & build service model, where the design, implementation and delivery of a custom interior is all done by a single partner. At present, other floors are being redesigned and the entire building will be reconstructed in 2021 in a unified concept. Thanks to
the chosen design & build service, the implementation time has been reduced by approximately half compared
to the standard model, where there is no single general contractor for the client and individual professions
and tasks are coordinated across several companies.

Each design & build project on the other hand is preceded by an understanding of the tenant's philosophy, overall style of work and future vision, especially by the interior designers. In addition to the interior of one of the largest single-tenant buildings in the Czech Republic, the style of work has also changed. Instead of closed offices, employees now work in a flexible space that adapts to the work they do.

Thanks to this, negotiations with subcontractors are eliminated and T-Mobile could fully concentrate on its business throughout the entire implementation period. We handed over the first 4,000 sqm of new offices for use in a record-breaking time of five months, which included architectural design, technical design, project documentation, obtaining the necessary permits, implementation and moving in.

— Karel Konečný, Partner, CAPEXUS —

Take a look at the new T-Mobile offices

The amenities zone is a space for agile activity and relaxation. The possibility of dividing the space with curtains and acoustic screens increases its variability

A flexible working environment

Each team of approximately 20 members is assigned
a specific base – the so-called neighbourhood.
It includes a special section called a focus hub, which
is intended for up to four employees. It features mobile walls, thanks to which it can be divided into three separate rooms. "This solution facilitated the transition from a closed to an open office," said CAPEXUS architect Martin Židek. "We designed it for quiet independent work and frequent conference calls."

The fit-out of T-Mobile's headquarters aims to build a modern environment that fosters collaboration, flexibility and agility, and is thus an important component of the ongoing change in company culture.

— Lenka Brody, Program Director, T-Mobile —

The reconstruction has completely transformed the office – employees moved into an open space with zones where they can choose a workstation depending on their activity. The colours used include yellow and orange

Clear mind, clean desk

Each team also has an ,,amenities" zone designed by the architects as a space for teamwork and meetings.
It is tailor-made for the particular team. The individual zones, from neighbourhood to cafeteria to the conference part, all fit together into a unique concept of shared space in which employees can move freely and always find the ideal conditions for the work they are doing.

Employees now have a choice of where to work, whether a formal place at a desk, an enclosed room with height-adjustable desks suitable for quiet work, or a comfortable seat in the cafeteria. Flexibility and adaptability are among the most important aspects of a functional modern workplace.

— Erika Bohatá, architect, CAPEXUS —

The new offices offer relaxation areas with the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon cup of coffee

Comfortable seating for visitors and employees

In the conference rooms, architects worked with natural motifs and slogans on the walls

The kitchenette is a meeting and sharing place for T-Mobile employees from the entire floor

Sharedesking

The meeting rooms are designed for a variety of uses. Besides the classic ones, there are rooms for stand-up meetings and so-called creative rooms. There is also
a conference zone which can be reserved. Indeed, all meeting rooms have an online reservation system.
The zoning principle and the fact that all workspaces are shared in line with the so-called share desk system correspond directly to the clean desk policy – when employees finish their shift at the end of the day they leave a clean desk behind them.

Zoning works through a variety of acoustic and visual barriers.These include acoustic curtains, acoustic panels, greenery, corridor separation and ground plan layout.

— Martin Židek, architect, CAPEXUS —

In this case, the relaxation zone is subtly separated from the workplace

A connected and illuminated space

Thanks to the trust of the client and CAPEXUS' wealth of experience the architects had virtually a free hand in designing and modifying the new premises. T-Mobile's corporate identity was brought to the interior by repeating the square motif that appears in the company logo.
The main objective was to avoid the primary colour, magenta, as employees see it every day on promotional items, monitors, documents and other materials. Attention was thus given to secondary colours. The architects chose blue, orange, green, yellow and teal in various shades.

The main goal was to create a functional, refreshing and spatially varied interior where employees feel good. We refurbished the long cluttered corridors using light tones in combination with natural materials throughout the space. Thanks to the subliminal colour navigation, employees can find their way around the space more easily. Connecting and illuminating the space contributed to better cooperation within the teams.

— Erika Bohatá, architect, CAPEXUS —

The work lounge allows staff to relax, work in a team or have an informal meeting

Colourful variety and greenery

In each room the colours are graded from the centre to the edges. Colours and squares also dominate
the carpets. Thanks to these colours, a natural and very intuitive navigation system was created in harmony with the atypical ground plan. Each "finger" has its own colour and its parts have different functions:
the outermost places serve for quiet and focused work while the central zones are for formal and informal meetings. The colours are connected by common areas where wooden decor, concrete trowels, expanded metal or perforated sheet metal and wood wool boards
are used.

Natural materials play a major role especially in the relaxation areas and meeting rooms, where employees can enjoy plenty of greenery. Other natural motifs include mosses, which, like all the greenery, are cared for by Flower Service. Speaking of nature, the whole transformation took place with the aim of minimizing environmental impact. Internal messages are projected onto LED screens instead of using paper post-it notes. Soda makers are placed in the kitchens, reducing the consumption of plastic bottles, and there are sorted waste bins in the offices.

Sharedesking in offices is based on the principle of zoning. Each team of approximately 20 members is assigned a specific base – the so-called neighbourhood

Sharing works

T-Mobile's cooperation with CAPEXUS' architects and implementation team resulted in the perfect transformation of large and enclosed offices into
a modern desk-sharing space with sophisticated design and details. The transformation was implemented while the office remained in full operation by creating a swing space for the sales team on the sixth floor, where it was possible to work undisturbed during the project.
The result is an interior that takes into account not only
the comfort of all employees thanks to sophisticated zoning, but also the use of natural elements and colourful motifs to create a pleasant working environment.

The CAPEXUS architects showed a great deal of empathy and patience, and designed a functional space that makes employees feel good while promoting a change in corporate culture. They were proactive with good ideas that always moved the target solution a little further. The subsequent implementation went smoothly, on schedule and while the company remained in full operation.

— Lenka Brody, Program Director, T-Mobile —

Building information

The office building in Roztyly, Tomíčkova 2144/1, Prague 4, which is located in an area of low-rise residential buildings, was designed by Lubomír Zeman for development company Sekyra Group. The building consists of seven aboveground and three underground floors. The first employees moved into the building in 2004.