PONT12 Office
After becoming too confined in its previous open-space office, PONT12 has relocated into an industrial facility, right in the middle of a developing outskirt of the city of Lausanne, Switzerland. The principal philosophy remains, to function ‘horizontally’ by offering equal workspace, regardless of the different roles within the team.
This rehabilitation takes place in the large attic of an old chocolate factory built in 1944, where initially a supply of cocoa beans was kept as a ‘ strategic food commodity’. The building stayed unoccupied for several years, and its transformation was ambitious in terms of thermal insulation, natural lighting, ventilation and acoustics. The resulting space is a made-to-measure work environment, perfectly suiting a large number of people willing to work without partitions.
The attic level is constituted of two large twin spaces, offering many work stations and six meeting rooms. On the ground floor, PONT12 has also transformed a wide garage space for all side activities such as eating, relaxation, workshops, material library, etc.
Seeking a maximisation of its interior volume, the building was initially conceived with generous double-heights. This condition ensures a certain comfort, offers good light diffusion and also allows the addition of mezzanines. The kitchen and dining room are thus situated on a half-floor level, clearing the whole ground floor which can then be used for different types of events: conferences, concerts, exhibitions, culinary venues… With a non-profit approach, this setting represents for PONT12 an opening of the office space into the public space. Through simple means, this warehouse rehabilitation aims for maximum hedonistic ergonomics.
