The new office of Freundschaft – Smaller, Brighter, and in the Spirit of Re-use

Before deciding to change offices, Freundschaft commissioned us to conduct a study that clearly showed how the agency’s work model and employee needs had changed. This allowed us to develop a brief to find a property with specific features. As a result, the company was able to reduce its space from 1000m2 to 463m2 and implement new functional requirements.

“We were looking for an office exclusively in the city center, one suited for today’s work environment, which is different from the pre-pandemic era. Today, we need less space, we move around more consciously and sustainably, we are less attached to desks, and our work time mainly consists of meetings. Therefore, both in the design and the choice of location, we reflected on creating a space tailored to function,” says Ania Koszur, CEO of Grupa Freundschaft.

Compared to the original office, the proportions of open space zones versus meeting areas have changed. In the previous office, conference rooms occupied about 10% of the area, and the open space was nearly 70%. In the new office, the proportions have shifted – the number of meeting rooms has increased, and there are now various meeting spaces, including areas for individual conversations, hybrid meetings, and quiet work. The open space with hot desks has become merely a supportive area for teamwork.

Our goal for this project was to think twice about every penny spent. None of us wanted to artificially create a ‘wow’ effect, but rather to create a neutral background where creativity can flourish. The office was primarily meant to provide specific functional work areas, unpretentious, and not impose any foreign style.

A space suitable for retrofitting was chosen, requiring only minor changes and modifications to the installations, which kept the costs down. The new Freundschaft office features exclusively reclaimed furniture, contributing to an eco-friendly approach and creating a unique atmosphere that matches the creative work style.

Our modernity is reflected in the fact that we have an office without new furniture

Ania KOSZUR, FREUNDSCHAFT CEO

The team meticulously selected furniture from different eras and styles, creating a unique, eclectic design. In addition to classic chairs like Philippe Starck’s Dr. Yes Chairs, the office includes chairs from the 80s and 90s produced by the German company Kusch & Co, Kartell chairs, Orbit models by Cantarutti & Petricich from the early 2000s, acoustic furniture from the Polish company NOTI designed by Tomek Rygalik, and exclusively round tables from the late 60s and 70s that promote discussion. Everything is in the spirit of re-use.

Large-format, original graphics by the agency’s designers—Karolina Kaczmarczyk, Paula Głębocka, Bartek Koj, Piotr Fuk, Dawid Bogacki, and Konrad Smolarski—adorn the walls, creating a friendly and artistic work atmosphere.