Revolutionizing Corporate Spaces: Sberbank's Futuristic Headquarters

Evolution Design Transforms Sberbank's Moscow Office into a Daylight-Flooded Atrium

Sberbank, a leading proponent of agile working principles in Russia, is developing a new corporate district in Moscow. The bank commissioned Evolution Design to transform a 30,000 square meter building into a multifunctional head office. The design was inspired by the internal atrium, which passes through nine floors of the ten-story building. This daylight-flooded atrium, complete with coworking spaces and a coffee bar, serves as the heart of the new head office, connecting people from different departments.

The atrium's unique properties set it apart from traditional corporate spaces. The suspended diamond-shaped meeting room, 20-meter-high living walls, and a series of cantilevered meeting areas give the space a futuristic feel. The offices on each side, the green walls, and the mirrored reflections of the floating room add to this effect. The atrium is 24 meters high, measured from the coworking space on the 4th floor. The suspended meeting room is 5 meters high, 11 meters long, and 8.5 meters wide.

The construction of the suspended diamond meeting room involved a hidden load-bearing steel frame and a thin triangulated structure, clad with translucent and mirror panels. The suspension cables were designed to be flexible and are equipped with a tension measurement system for real-time monitoring and immediate adjustments. This innovative design approach demonstrates the intersection of architecture and technology.

The atrium's design encourages interaction and collaboration. With its various workspaces and central coffee bar, the atrium draws people to use the space for informal meetings and spontaneous exchange. The six protruding meeting rooms act as a visual extension into the atrium, elongating the views from the atrium into the office spaces. On the office floors, the natural daylight from the atrium reduces reliance on artificial blue light.

The project, completed in January 2020, took 16 months. The design team faced the challenge of completely reconstructing a previously erected concrete structure and introducing new public functions, like the conference center and the atrium. The design also had to meet the requirements of adjustable workspaces and a diversity of work and recreation areas. Biophilic considerations, smart lighting, ventilation, and acoustic solutions were all part of the design scheme. Despite these challenges, the team successfully created a modern and flexible office space that embodies Sberbank's commitment to innovation and collaboration.

This innovative design has been recognized with a Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. The award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, contribute to societal wellbeing, and advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. With this design, Evolution Design and T+T Architects have truly set a new standard for corporate spaces.