Headspace's new office, reflects the company’s values
Montalba Architects
Office&Business
/
Completed
For a company whose vision is to improve the health and happiness of the world, it was important that the newly expanded office space for global leader in mindfulness and meditation, Headspace, reflect the company’s values of mindfulness, innovation, and dedicated purpose. Reflective of their core, while fitting in to the industrial vernacular of the building’s site, was a primary focus for the team. The challenge was to find unique ways to bring Headspace’s new office to life by seamlessly juxtaposing group and individual spaces. To honor the core values of the company, small spaces were strategically placed throughout the space, where employees could find a moment of personal solace that wouldn’t deter from the surrounding communal environment.
The main design gesture turns the previous unused exterior patio into a large, outdoor garden, which gets pulled through the workspace into the central courtyard on the second floor. The open-air enclosure filters light and greenery into previously dark, isolated spaces and offers a moment of reprieve from the industrious energy throughout.
Creating a connection to the outdoors was a critical design consideration for the campus experience and meditation environment of the Headspace culture. This was accomplished through a few design moves: exterior courtyard, bi-fold door and garage door to the courtyard, and the lightwell courtyard on the second floor.
Headspace has been headquartered at Bergamot Station since 2016, and the new design responds to both the necessary requirements of an office space, as well as Headspace’s cultural needs: flexible workstations; a group meditation area for daily morning mindful breaks; open, outdoor areas for work or for meditation; lounge spaces for collective brainstorming and extracurricular office gatherings; private phone booths; collaborative meeting rooms; and large kitchens for daily lunches.
The featured entry stair functions as a workspace that transitions into a large stadium seating for company-wide events, meditation, presentations, all hands meetings, or flexible working space. A media screen rolls down in front of the large bi-fold door and a large suspended curtain folds around to control light and sound. True to Headspace’s brand philosophy, free standing meditation pods and quiet meditation areas are available throughout the space to allow employees additional moments of solitude.
The material palette for most of the space was strategically chosen to be a sophisticated, neutral palette in order to allow for the Headspace AV graphics, furniture, and murals to bring brighter colors to the space.
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The oversized bi-fold doors is a main connection from the outdoor garden to both levels.
Kevin Scott
The connection pathway doubles as seating for flexible uses.
Kevin Scott
The bi-fold door connects to the courtyard.
Kevin Scott
The simple and neutral architectural palette allows for the company to express themselves.
Kevin Scott
Another opening point to the courtyard for maximum natural light and movement.
Kevin Scott
The garden provides moments of quiet in an otherwise lively workspace.
Kevin Scott
Open spaces with loose furniture encourage casual conversations.
Kevin Scott
View of executive flex meeting room with second floor courtyard beyond.
Kevin Scott
Detail of space separation through wood panels.
Kevin Scott
Outdoor courtyard anchors the East and West office working spaces.
Kevin Scott
This 20,000 sf office expansion of this office headquarters is located in Santa Monica, California.
Kevin Scott
Set within an existing industrial site, the project creates a modern, flexible workspace in response to their growing office and cultural needs.
Kevin Scott
Reflective of their core values – focused, mindful, and dedicated – while fitting in to the industrial vernacular of the building’s site, was a primary focus for the team.
Kevin Scott
The challenge was to find unique ways to bring their new office to life by seamlessly juxtaposing group and individual spaces.
Montalba Architects
Flex meeting spaces are strategically programmed throughout to give teams meeting spaces and encourage interaction
Kevin Scott
Using the area underneath the stairs for maximizing interaction and space.
Kevin Scott
The flex spaces are programmed with a combination of millwork, built-in seating, loose furniture and pinup boards to allow for different groups to change the workspace to fit their needs
Kevin Scott
A communal kitchen sits at the center of the campus, just off the courtyard and provides a large area for daily team meals
Kevin Scott
The communal kitchen connects with the courtyard.
Kevin Scott
The main design gesture turns the previous unused exterior patio into a large, outdoor garden, which gets pulled through the workspace into the central courtyard on the second floor, from the industrious e
Kevin Scott
The outdoor gardens on the ground and second floor.
Kevin Scott
The garden folds up to the second floor creating a lightwell that filters light and greenery into previously dark, isolated spaces
Kevin Scott
Floor plans
Montalba Architects
The featured entry stair functions as a workspace that transitions into a large stadium seating for company-wide events, meditation, presentations, all hands meetings, or flexible working space.
Kevin Scott
Exterior view prior to entering to the Headspace courtyard
Santa Monica
United States of America
Confidential
12/2019
2045 mq
Montalba Architects
Montalba Architects
Shawmut Design and Construction
Structural Engineer: John Labib and Associates, Lighting Designer: Sean O'Connor Lighting, MEP Engineer: PBS Engineers, Geotechnical Consultant: Geocon West
Kevin Scott
Curriculum
Montalba Architects is an award-winning practice, producing select architecture and urban design related projects by embracing a humanistic approach that considers not only a client’s needs and site considerations, but also the cultural and economic environment. With this process, solutions are realized that are contextual, yet conceptual and visionary in their intent, effect, and appeal.
A significant work of architecture expresses its purpose via physical solutions. As with any form of design, in architecture artful solutions are the goals to be sought. At Montalba Architects, these solutions are frequently inspired by our key values, which find physical expression in ways directly related to the particular client, program, and design problem.