When we first met the brand identity firm FINE, they had outgrown their shell and felt cramped at their old home in a residential neighborhood house. Ready to move, their new downtown location would be an entire floor in a five-story building, with contemporary exposed concrete floors and steel structure.

FINE wanted an inspiring open office that could capitalize on the natural light pouring in from the west and south. Our challenge was to keep the openness of the industrial space while providing enclosed meeting rooms, offices, and amenities for a spectrum of activities.

Working with the FINE team, Bora crafted an environment that is open and functional by defining distinct zones within the workspace using free-standing architectural elements.

A triangular volume floats at the west end of the floorplan, comprised of two “hoteling” offices and a large conference room. It is clad in a magnetic writing surface, and the complex shape provides opportunities for distinct program areas around its perimeter, including work space, a game room, and the kitchen and dining areas. A glass-walled bar of meeting rooms and offices hug the east wall of the FINE space. A floor to ceiling walnut bookcase screens the copy area and defines a lounge. To provide a backdrop for these rich and colorful elements, we painted the exposed steel ceiling and structure white.

The resulting space is radically and transformatively different from their previous residence, giving FINE an office where all employees share a singular space, with room to breathe.