A Tour of Saatchi & Saatchi Brandsrock’s Office

Saatchi & Saatchi Brandsrock is a collaboration that brings together a local start-up with its roots in experiential marketing, Africa’s fastest growing agency network, and digital search and conversion agency. Recently, Saatchi & Saatchi Brandsrock reached out to interior design firm Inhouse Brand Architects to design their new offices in Cape Town, South Africa.

“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. Instead, the levels above are now visible and this creates a greater flow within the environment. Reinforcing this, brickwork and industrial fittings are left exposed. These features date from the original use of the building as a factory and add a utilitarian feel to the space that speaks of functionality. This sense extends into the main reception area through the use of streamlined finishes and furniture. The simple steel and wooden planters that greet visitors upon entering, also provide private conversational space while simultaneously acting as a display unit for the numerous awards the agency has won. A large meeting room that runs alongside has folding glass doors that can be opened so as to enlarge the holding capacity of the room and seating benches and tables are easily rearranged. In addition, lounge furniture is dotted around the ground floor space”, said Inhouse Brand Architects

• Location: Cape Town, South Africa
• Date completed: 2015
• Design: Inhouse Brand Architects