Following
their growth in Italy and expansion throughout Europe, Herbert Smith Freehills
have opened their new offices in via Rovello, Milan. Cushman & Wakefield were
commissioned to develop the project to create efficient work areas with an
emphasis on wellbeing.
Two years after
opening their headquarters in Italy, at the end of 2019 the international law
firm Herbert Smith Freehills moved into the new spaces designed and planned by
Cushman & Wakefield’s Design & Project Management Team: 1300 square
metres distributed over two floors inside an historic building in the heart of Milan.
“In order
to fully understand the values and create the right feeling with the brand’s
other international offices,” say designers Eleonora Prassino and Eleonora
Bellini, “we shared images of spaces they had already created around the world
and studied their guidelines. These headquarters had to convey a genuine sense
of being Italian and through their refined, contemporary spaces had to focus on
the wellbeing of employees, which is guaranteed through welcoming, bright,
comfortable environments.”
A careful
analysis of materials led us to choose wood to characterise the customer areas,
which were created using mainly custom-made furniture.
The
reception area on the first floor of the firm represents the heart of the
project. Behind the reception desk, a system of sliding wooden panels featuring
fixed and adjustable sunshades screens off the existing French windows,
separating the internal environment from the building shell, and was designed
using simple shapes and a careful study of the light and colours.
To calibrate
the proportions of the pre-existing environment, an oblique wall covered with
wallpaper has been placed to scale down the large volumes and demarcate the new
meeting room next to it. The same wall takes on greater importance, forming a
centrepiece to the arrangement and creating a spacious informal break and
waiting area.
In the
operational area on the second floor, consisting of individual and double
offices, a combination of minimal design and technology prevail, cleverly conveyed
in the colour tones of white and grey – which give it light and a sense of
transparency.
The
Library-Lounge area reflects a homely mood. Ideally conceived as a single room,
the library provides a double function thanks to the large retractable sliding
door, which divides up the space defining the lounge area used by both
customers and the firm’s staff.
“Attention
to detail and personalisation are two of the distinctive features of this
project,” sum up Prassino and Bellini from Cushman & Wakefield, “we
designed much of the furniture and even standard furnishings were customised to
fully meet the requirements of those who use the firm’s spaces.”
For this
new fit-out, Dieffebi has used a storage system that guarantees functionality,
good filing capacity and the option to extend the system if need be. The open
shelving provides a surface to stand things on and can also be used as exhibition
space. Without forgetting biophilic design, a new trend: Dieffebi metal furniture
allows greenery to be integrated whilst keeping all the surfaces clean and
easily sanitisable.
Project
fiche
Size of
intervention area
1300 square
metres
Client
Law
firm Herbert Smith Freehills
Strategic
Planning Advice
Paola
Migliavacca, Cushman & Wakefield
Design
Project and Project Management, Cushman & Wakefield
Eleonora Prassino and Eleonora Bellini
Interior Renovation
Brusban
Company Srl
Furniture
Distributor
Cardex
Srl
