Leading design agency, Inhouse Brand Architects was recently called in to reimagine the Cape Town offices of trailblazing advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi. Having previously completed highly successful office refurbishments for other agencies like Ogilvy and 99c, the award-winning Inhouse team was a natural choice for Saatchi & Saatchi, thanks to its experience in changing the traditional structure of the professional environment for the better.

Saatchi & Saatchi needed to remodel its Cape Town premises because the Saatchi & Saatchi SA group recently acquired an additional agency, BrandsRock, and as a result, the group’s Cape Town offices located at The Foundry in Green Point needed to expand. Inhouse was briefed to give the space a thorough overhaul that would convey the dynamic creativity for which the agency prides itself.

Saatchi & Saatchi’s progressive ethos of “Nothing is Impossible” infused Inhouse team leader, Annelise Botes’ design concept from the start. Bright and bold colours contrast with the more sedate; irregular lines immediately lend an air of unconventionality to the space; and playful pop culture references abound. The ground floor reception area was the focus of the project, needing to instantly signal a contemporary corporate culture that welcomes dialogue and collaboration.

The collaborative spirit that underlines the Saatchi & Saatchi brand is consistently referenced through the use of large-scale signage featuring ampersand symbols - an eye-catching feature that reinforces the spirit of collaboration and possibility. A cascading graphic forms the backdrop to the reception area.

In addition to a meet-and-greet space, the reception needed to have a dual function: due to a lack of group activity areas elsewhere in the office, it was important that the reception function as a core meeting and mingling place for the newly expanded company. In response to this need, Botes immediately opened up the area, removing walls that paradoxically created a sense of constriction and confinement.

The need for spaces that are adaptable and suited to a variety of different purposes is an ever-increasing necessity for the present-day workplace. Saatchi & Saatchi’s refurbishment reflects this through the creation of spaces and custom furnishings that are designed to be multi-functional. Now, the offices function in a way that incorporates different work styles, while provides an open and vibrant entrance area that transmits company values and brand identity. Multi-functionality truly at its finest!

Inhouse Brand Architects