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The architects began by gutting the space and establishing a mechanical infrastructure. From this base they built the interior architecture using a set of modular components: footbridges, conference rooms, and discussion areas distributed throughout as strong, playful organizational elements.

Each building zone is organized into distinct, mostly open-plan work areas. Access to the offices is by slightly elevated footbridges, akin to gangways on ships. These footbridges act as arteries, connecting the various work areas without intruding on them.

Oval-shaped, windowed meeting rooms open directly onto the footbridges, as do small common areas with copiers and fax machines. Both room types are covered with clear wooden panels on the outside and strong hues of yellow, lime green, and slate blue on the inside.

A discussion area is furnished with small glass tables and quirky stools on wheels that rotate around the tables, combining the practical and the fun.

At the main entrance, the reception and the primary waiting area flow into a larger reception room, which doubles as a presentation, exhibition, and event space. Located on the street side of the building, it gives a perfect view of the Canal St.-Martin.

This section of the building also includes two seminar rooms, each accommodating eight to ten people, and an open administration area. The seminar rooms are enclosed with partition walls and fitted with a glazed facade to admit natural light. Suspended, transparent partitions separate the dozen administration workstations that are divided into groups of four.

The information technology department forms the core of the middle bay, where groupings of eight to 12 workstations accommodate 70 people. A central footbridge fluidly connects the whole bay, edged on both sides by a handrail with integrated storage cabinets. At one end of the bay are two spaces for mechanical and electrical equipment.

From the zone of entry, another footbridge circulates through the creative division on the east bay of the building. This spacious level opens like a large landscape for 30 to 35 people and includes a conference room and discussion area. One large, wood-paneled wall combines storage, display space, and library materials. On the two floors below, similar spaces continue the open-plan design, with a consultant's area for 12 to 15 people and a marketing area for 30 to 35 people.

The primary waiting room, the cafeteria, and the kitchen are self-contained, three-dimensional elements in which the floor bends up to form the wall, then bends again for the ceiling. The modules are made of wood covered with yellow or blue industrial floor linoleum and closed on the edges with a stainless steel plate. These distinctive elements contain their own lighting.   >>>

The Pixelpark interior is largely open but with self-contained, modular, oval-shaped conference rooms throughout. Photo: Gitty Darugar Inside a conference room. Photo: Gitty Darugar A conference room module. Image: Edge Footbridges form the corridors serving the open-plan work spaces. Utilities feed from overhead cable trays. Photo: Gitty Darugar The middle bay. Photo: Gitty Darugar Reception desk, with modular waiting area beyond. Photo: Gitty Darugar Small glass tables in the discussion area, with rotating stools on wheels. Photo: Gitty Darugar The project display wall. Photo: Gitty Darugar   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.