AS Offices: A Masterpiece of Mixed-Use Design

Xavier Abreu's Award-Winning Design Reflects Contemporary Simplicity

The AS Offices project was conceived as a signature image for the firm, embodying its ethos and values. The design is characterized by a white prism that unfolds, representing the office's dynamism and allowing users to enjoy its spatiality. The building's design is a response to the 15 x 20m corner plot, which necessitated a compact design to accommodate sufficient parking space.

The building's structure is made of reinforced concrete, with a beam and vault ceiling. The three-story building houses retail spaces on the ground floor and the architecture offices on the upper floors. The office space is organized over two levels, with all the services contained in an exposed concrete cube. This design feature opens a window in the vestibule, creating visual amplitude and a relationship with the outside.

The heart of the office, the workshop area, is a double-height space that opens onto a terrace balcony. The private office on the second level mezzanine visually integrates with the workshop, allowing the office to enjoy the spatiality of the double height and visuals to the balcony. The design's unique properties and innovative use of space set it apart from other mixed-use buildings.

The design process involved a careful analysis of orientation and insolation due to the region's high temperatures, as well as the urban context. The retail area is located with a view to the south to capitalize on the street’s heavy traffic flow, while the office’s entrance is located on the west street, protecting it from direct sunlight. A glass wall on the east side provides the workshop with natural lighting and excellent ventilation during the day.

One of the biggest challenges in designing this mixed-use building was achieving harmony between the office and retail spaces, each with different functional requirements. The office needed to project a strong image and character, while the retail spaces required a moderate investment with good aesthetics. The successful resolution of this challenge is a testament to the design team's skill and creativity.

The AS Offices project was recognized with a Golden A' Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding, trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.