Top ten: curated offices with light-giving atriums

In the first of a new series of curated project highlights, we handpick ten offices from the last few years of the Architonic project database. In each article, we’ll pick apart one contemporary trend-setting element of interior design and architecture, highlighting – in the architects’ own words – how it was approached. As part of Architonic’s first Office Project Newsletter of 2024, we present the following large-scale office buildings with central atrium spaces.

Used to visually and audibly connect floors and departments across expansive office buildings, these light and open gathering spaces use skylights, glass walls and partitions, open balconies, interior street furniture, biophilic design and acoustic surfaces to keep employees calm and connected while at work. With workers' mental health and wellbeing now a crucial factor in office design, these calming spaces add a breath of fresh air – sometimes literally – to corporate environments.

‘The former Turbine Hall is a dramatic four-storey industrial space at the heart of the building’s design. The central space serves as a circulation hub, connecting all areas. An inner retreat for agile working and a community space for people to meet and connect, the hall’s feature spiral staircase links all four floors and supports the connection between departments.’

‘The building consists of three wings, which unite in an atrium that connects all floors of the building. Surrounded by communal areas, the atrium opens onto Carl Jacobsen’s Garden overlooking Carlsberg City, and combines all the office sections, both vertically and horizontally, into one single working community, reinforcing collaboration and sharing across the organisation.’

‘Arranged around central atria and courtyards, the design creates a variety of shared indoor and outdoor spaces that build the strong sense of community that defines Infinitus’ corporate culture. A network of sprinklers sprays atomised particles of collected rainwater onto the ETFE membrane roof above each atrium to dissipate heat by evaporative cooling.’

‘The new building brings together the administration and logistics centre of the company. All facilities are placed around an atrium, cutting down through the building and creating a common platform for the internal workflow involving all the different branches of the company – a bright, open and dynamic environment.’

‘The original layout of Sentul Works consisted of two main spaces separated by a central double-volume hallway. Adapting to the original symmetry of the building interior, the original hallway now serves as a double-volume central atrium, flanked with new office spaces. Visual connection is established between the ground and first floors within the working environment, without compromising privacy.'

‘A stage is set for the 11m-tall colour installation in the central atrium, which was realised in cooperation with the artist Heinz Mack. Twelve panels ranging from bright pink to light green and deep orange give the rooms on each floor spectacular colours.’

‘Spacious and filled with daylight and greenery, an internal atrium forms the basis of the architectural concept. Stretching six floors above coworking spaces, informal meeting areas and a coffee bar, the atrium acts as a magnet for connecting people. With offices on each side, the green walls, colourful cantilevered meeting rooms and a floating diamond meeting room give the whole space a futuristic quality.’

‘A research and development facility for future chocolate recipes, a production plant, a chocolate shop, a cafe and offices are all connected by spiralling staircases and cascading walkways that crisscross a vast atrium. A series of round load-bearing pillars and walls create a robust structure, revealing a building full of movement; stairs, elevators, walkways and bridges produce spatial and experiential connectivity and communication.’

‘The three-storey superstructure wraps around itself, which creates a unique ‘doughnut’ shape and forms a central triple-volume atrium – an internal ‘social spine’ at the heart of the building. The open floor plan that loops around the atrium’s periphery is connected by a series of dramatic bridges and staircases, interconnecting the various departments and creating opportunities for chance collaborative encounters and personal interactions.’

'The open atrium of the main building can be experienced vertically as an urban forum. The result is a multifunctional space with a campus character. Functioning as a hub, with branches winding through all seven floors like a spiral, the atrium creates a variety of visual relationships around a clearly defined centre.’