PAU

PAU is a Belgian tech company, active within the fields of digital product-design and development. Their new office space holds a rich history as a former stock exchange with beautiful period detailing. The design brief of the client was to maximize multifunctionality; allowing the space to be used as an office as well as for art exhibitions, concerts, presentations, workshops, …

By adding two inserts; a big tribune staircase and a ‘patio’, we created a workfield that is open but not cluttered. We designed these contemporary inserts in relation to the existing historical context.

A rounded and glossy white volume shapes the staircase. A bold but nonetheless humble structure. Although it is a large volume, it adds lightness to the space because of its outside shape and colour. The round opening in the facade allows daylight into the small meetingroom. Dark wood is used for the stairs giving the user a feeling of security and cosiness. Secondly we integrated a patio. With its large planter, this fully glazed patio-room organises the space and allows for quick meetings.

Besides the additions we evaluated and restored valuable elements like the Versailles parquet. The glass tiled floors had been hidden in the past with former renovations; we brought it back in view and by doing so we allowed more natural light to flow in. The Pau café, as the client likes to call it, used to be a succession of four small rooms. We have opened these up while retaining the room division principle. This keeps the ornamental molding intact and creates an interesting connection with the new steel structure. The kitchen is a pop of colour to brighten up the daily workflow.