Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters Barcelona, Building Photos, Spanish HQ Design

Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters, Barcelona

HQ Building in Catalonia design by YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona, Spain

18 Dec 2013

Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters in Barcelona

Design: YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona

Office Refurbishment, Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona

Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters Building

YLAB Arquitectos designed the Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters in Barcelona at Paseo de
Gracia, one of the most important shopping and business addresses in Barcelona.

photo : Eugeni Pons

We were invited to tender for the design and project management. We knew that to win the project we had to produce a design that met the client brief from a functional perspective, yet far exceed their expectations with the design concept and remain within budget.

photo : Eugeni Pons

Paris based consultancy agency Future Brand was appointed to manage the project corporate image, and as such distributed the basic brand strategy concepts. The client side project management distributed the functional information required to plan the office space efficiently, such as number of staff, number of open-plan spaces and closed offices, required number and size of meeting spaces, individual and departmental relationships; specialized areas, such as IT server room and functionality, and basic functions which include the pantry, storage and equipment areas. Inaugure Hospitality also asked us to create an organic, functional and an inspiring work space that encourages good communication; a place where people enjoy coming to work.

photo : Eugeni Pons

Our starting point came from an organic development of the distribution with its functional areas.
We wanted the space tell a story, creating a tension between closed areas and voids, making the corridors and open spaces look as one continuous, zigzagging and soft curved element. In order to strength this idea some functional areas were visually integrated within the open space, separated by a transparent glass partition.

From there we wanted to create the illusion of movement throughout the space, drawing individuals along the corridor and inviting them to look around the next corner.

photo : Eugeni Pons

In the reception area an extra large white corian counter in front of a wooden paneled back wall give visitors a great first impression of the office. Closed to the entrance, in a more quiet zone, a lounge area provides a flexible environment for visitors and employees to rest or have a chat.

At the Passeig de Gracia facade, the large scale meeting room, the Chairman’s office and a second office are facing the Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila, offering the right view for internal and client meetings.

photos : Eugeni Pons

The partitions are conceived to skillfully separate the individual areas, sufficiently blocking the view while allowing a maximum amount of natural light into the area.

Most walls are covered by an elegant wall paneling in ivory white lacquered wood, adding a glossy high quality finish to the whole space.

Closed to the meeting room this cladding is perforated forming a strong illuminated graphic which, at first glance, appears like a random array of freeform cut-outs shaped by scripted parametric textures.

photo : Eugeni Pons

Only viewing it from a distance and a second look reveals that it displays the map of an important West African investment area like Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. This futuristic concept extends a wide arc to the origin of Inaugure as part of the Teylium International Group, as a West African holding company based in Senegal, with Inaugure Hospitality pointing to the future as a modern firm. Future meets History.

We faced various challenges during the concept development stage, one of which was planning a
contemporary bright reflecting white look, as given by Future Brand’s corporate brand concept and adding a multi color scheme for the office furniture, as given by Inaugure’s Chairman.

As a result we created a white ambient formed by carpets, built-in furniture, walls and ceilings and introduced a slated warm Lenke wood (Afzelia africana) to the scheme, which we felt added warmth and a calming influence, as well as spiritual properties, according to West African cultures. Finally each room was given its own identity through different colored fine wool upholstered furniture.

photo : Eugeni Pons

Inaugure Hospitality Group Headquarters – Building Information

Architecture and interior design: YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona
Authors: Tobias Laarmann y Yolanda Yuste López
Project: Office refurbishment
Client: Inaugure Hospitality
Area: 475 m2
Location: Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona
Photos: Eugeni Pons (http://www.eugeni-pons.com)
Builders, craftsmen: Ebanistería Agüera, 7Works
General Contractor: Cristalería Bonanova, IEAISA
Suppliers: Bordonabe, Grup Sesaelec, Arper, Haworth, Vibia

photo : Eugeni Pons

naugure Hospitality Group Headquarters images / information from YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona

YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona is a Spanish-German architectural design firm formed by Tobias
Laarmann and Yolanda Yuste.
From their studio in Barcelona, YLAB works on the design, management and construction of
architecture and interior design projects. YLAB is specialized in residential, commercial and corporate design.

Location: Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona, Catalunya, Northeast Spain