Dynamic Industrial Workspace In Capetown Features A Striking Black Ceiling

Tetris Design and Build, a multinational design and build company was commissioned to create an industrial workspace design in CapeTown for Ecolab and its subsidiary, Lobster Ink.

Ecolab, a Fortune 500 company, and it’s subsidiary Lobster Ink, a global training and content developer in the hospitality, food, and beverage sector, sought to relocate their workspace to better align with their corporate culture and enhance the work environment for their teams. Their descision to stay in Capetown was decided after a stay-versus-go analysis of their real estate needs by JLL Market Advisory team.

According to Tetris, the brief was to “provide a space that was inspirational and functional for their teams” – with individual zones and dedicated spaces needed for developers and digital analysts to work and focus or take online calls; and group activity spaces needed by content creators to workshop and brainstorm ideas. “Break-out spaces, and leisure spaces had to include comfort along with high-end aesthetics, incorporate a sense of playfulness and creativity and provide opportunities for rewarding casual interactions.”

One of the key challenges highlighted by the design team was representing the strong visual brand identities of the two companies in the new workspace – Ecolab’s bright turquoise and Lobster Ink’s pure magenta. The other was the challenge of creating an energized and dynamic work environment with a very limited budget.

Tetris solution was to utilize the visually predominant industrial core of the existing space. This included painting the exposed HVAC systems, a soft charcoal, to provide a neutral backdrop for the vibrant activity within the workspace. The Ecolab turquoise and Lobster Ink magenta were rendered in softer, toned-down hues and applied as focal points in focus rooms and meeting rooms, which also featured bespoke sound baffles and meeting booths in these muted brand colors.

In addition to this, “the steel frame of the mezzanine layer was painted white to work with the large, glazed ground floor meeting rooms creating a flow and transparent continuity from open plan desking into large meeting and workshop rooms. Smaller meeting rooms on the mezzanine level feature soft charcoal grey curtains for privacy and improved acoustic performance, with expansive views of Table Mountain and the city. Detailed shop-fitted shelving provides a homely context and mirrors the eclectic nature of the neighborhood the office is located in”.

The design of the space used the visually predominant industrial core of the existing space… creating a flow and transparent continuity from open-plan desking into large meeting and workshop rooms.

Tetris design team

An interesting solution employed by the team to optimize the limited budget was the reuse of existing furniture. According to the Tetris team, “90% of the existing furniture was refurbished with existing desks cut down and reconfigured to fit the new workspace plan”.

The design team took the location of the workspace into consideration by sourcing for accessories for the 739m² workspace from local stores. “Wallpaper designs and detailing referenced the visual texture of the rail stockyards and harbour on one side and Table Mountain on the other side of this sixth-floor office. These design details provide a refreshing and playful authenticity to the location of the office and inserts a quirky visual aesthetic that is right fitted for the nature of the business of both the brands that occupy the space.”

The kitchen and pause areas feature a homely comfortable aesthetic, wooden shelving, and cupboards – and was designed as gathering points for hybrid work teams in search of a community. “A large professional coffee machine, bright yellow finishes, and brass handles create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The 16-seater cafe table with booths, harvest tables, and bar stools takes advantage of the office’s elevated height, offering breathtaking views of the disused railyard and harbour beyond.”

Different workspaces were created through the placement of feature furniture. “Quiet-work pods face the expansive views while occasional chairs and laptop stands provide comfortable breakaway spaces from the open-plan desking”. The workspace also emphasizes well-being and the Cape Town digital working lifestyle. Fully equipped showers are available for staff who may wish to cycle into work or exercise during the day, and planters filled with indigenous plants, known for their capacity to remove toxins from the air and fill the air with oxygen overnight, complete the picture.

Feature furniture placement creates further differentiated workspaces. Quiet-work pods face the expansive views while occasional chairs and laptop stands provide comfortable breakaway spaces from the open-plan desking

According to the design team, sustainability was a core consideration in this industrial workspace design. “The aesthetic comfort and wellbeing of being able to work close to natural light with incredible views of the Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain throughout the space fosters the collaboration required in workshops and creativity required from the teams”.

The repurposing of 90% of the existing furniture, as well as the upcycling of local artwork and accessories for use in the new industrial workspace minimized landfill and waste. This also strengthened the connection between the workspace and its local environment.

The design of this industrial workspace by Tetris Design and Build effectively meets the practical needs of Ecolab and Lobster Ink while fostering creativity, community, and a connection to the local environment. The project demonstrates that creativity can be achieved even within a limited budget.

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