A Tour of Skanska’s Modern Budapest Office

Skanska, a global project development and construction group hired architecture firm LAB5 architects for the design of its new Hungarian headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.

“Due to the company’s philosophy, every colleague has the same access to the working surfaces, which literally means, every morning everyone can select any working station, up to what’s the most convenient to his/her expected tasks of the day. Skanska implemented the activity based model, enhancing communication, creativity and co-working within the company. Helping the teamwork, everyone is sitting in the same space, but the way the furnishing and the layout are solved, there is no disturbingly over-sight of the total office area. Guests arriving to the company don’t meet direct panels of messages. They simply can feel themselves at home after the first step, finding an open coffee counter kitchenette waiting for them at the entrance.

Thanks to the fact that Skanska’s office will be in a building developed and built by Skanska, we show the original surfaces of the structure, the rough concrete ceiling becomes an elegant part of the interior. We don’t build paravan walls to provide division in the space. We use tools of land-art and we plant little living forests in the interior. Skanska really believes in green and sustainable solutions and integrating plants islands into the design of the office is also a living proof for this. The heart of the office is the great meeting area, where all colleagues can sit down together at the gatherings held on a weekly basis, for discussions or presentations and even for creative talks. Outside those busy hours these surfaces become flexible, non-traditional working areas. All elements having the same style, and also hiding additional functions – the back of the pedestals is actually the copy room area, integrated into the space,” says LAB5 Architects

• Location: Budapest, Hungary
• Date completed: 2017
• Size: 5,166 square feet
• Design: LAB5 architects
• Photos: Zsolt Batár