Selgas Cano’s Office (Incredible Glass Office)

Selgas Cano architecture firm designed and built this incredible glass office, which gives their employees a unique bug’s eye view of the colorful forest around them. Situated in Madrid, the streamlined space is encapsulated by a curving glass wall that provides gorgeous views of the surrounding forest while completely eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the day. 

 

The office takes the form of an aerodynamic tube, with a long window on one wall that extends into part of the ceiling. Acting as both a window and a skylight, the glass wall floods the office with light, eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the day. The window is lined with the employee’s desks, giving them an eye-level view of the forest floor. Falling leaves, animals, and wildlife pass by, creating a shifting forest landscape that changes throughout the day. Employees can also look up into the tree boughs and sky through the curved part of the glass casing.

Half of the building is submerged into the earth, which provides an excellent degree of insulation. During Madrid’s hot summers, the building keep Selgas Cano’s employees cool naturally, with little need for air conditioning. A stone staircase leads down into the office, which has sturdy lower walls of brick. Shared desks line the bunker, which glows with spherical lanterns and desk lamps when illuminated at night. The extraordinary office has been met with mixed reviews, but we find the unique proximity to nature to be both cozy and inspiring.

Selgascano's Design Second Office At Hollywood, LA

Selgascano designed oval-shaped offices of different sizes which are scattered around second home’s lushly vegetated garden. wrapped in transparent curved walls, the 60 rooms offer panoramic views of the surrounding plant life immersing the offices in nature. meanwhile, the previously existing building designed by paul williams has been repurposed as the campus’ main entrance. the structure contains 320 roaming workplaces on the ground floor and 200 dedicated workspaces on the first floor. common spaces such as a café, a bar, a restaurant, an events and conference hall, break out areas, and open terraces are found throughout the building.

 

 

The architects say that the project’s main focus was on the outdoor environment, with the design of the interior spaces taking a back seat. ‘in second home hollywood, instead of bringing the garden inside the office, we have brought the office out to the garden,’ selgascano explains. a network of paths connects the 60 offices, with LA’s mild climate ensuring that the garden can be used year-round. it is estimated that more than 10,000 plants and trees in addition to a diverse wildlife population now occupy the site. As those occupying the site have to co-exist with living things other than humans, selgascano describes the scheme as an experiment for the average office worker. the design team also points out that, among other benefits, the plants provides shade, thus helping to reduce the site’s temperature. meanwhile, the clear façade eliminates the need for artificial lighting, while three operable openings allow for natural cross-ventilation. furthermore, water collected on site is stored in two cisterns to be used for irrigation.