Dropbox’s new space at One Park Place, in the heart of Dublin, represents a shift to Virtual First—meaning remote work is now the primary experience for its people. Accordingly, the design was conceived to leverage the best experiential attributes of both the remote and the physical workspace, with an emphasis on preserving in-person connections, flexibility, and work-life harmony. The newly imagined Dropbox Studios, purpose-built to realize the company’s changed strategy, is key to providing employees with a place to collaborate face-to-face. Departing from precedent and representing a corporate real estate refocus, the studio is a compelling environment for social occasions, meetings, and collaboration.
Teaming with IA, Dropbox envisioned a more collaborative and enlightened way of interacting within the studio experience. Employees come to connect in-person around a shared purpose, be it bringing together off-site teams, culture building, collaboration, or attending an event. The design concept—unexpected arrivals and delightful departures–inspired a menu of settings that support discovery, intrigue, movement, and team-based activities. There are no individual workstations for solo work, and the ambience is relaxed and engaging.
Encompassing the building’s ground floor and located opposite Iveagh Gardens, one of Dublin’s oldest parks, the space has an eye to nature. Full-height windows wrap three sides of the floor plan, ensuring abundant natural light and views of the garden’s mature trees and greenery. Biophilic moments thread through the interior via strategically placed living plants and organically shaped design elements. Clearly visible to passersby at street level, the distinguishing palette of neutral colors and clean lines begins at the open-area reception with a stunning brass-finished desk offset by textured-plaster walls.
Flexibility being a priority, varied work settings include touch-down and collaboration spaces, multiple alcoves, and meeting rooms. Furniture is mobile to accommodate individual and team requirements. Training rooms can be sized using moveable partitions. Tasty fare from the barista café is enjoyed at individual or group environments as well as lounge spaces near the entry. The café-adjacent all-hands area can be annexed to create a more expansive open space for large meetings and events, or cordoned off by way of fully movable double-glazed sliding partitions. A work lounge is equally suited to use as a single space or two rooms divided by a clever acoustic ceiling treatment and acoustic drapes.
The overall atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and casually sophisticated. The palette is minimal—soft whites, accents of ash wood veneer, warm materials, occasional pops of color—and supported by unexpected lighting and reflective surfaces. In the corridor, a meandering line of LED illumination for wayfinding creates a sense of discovery, revealing unanticipated spaces: collaboration nooks, team rooms of various sizes, an IT desk, and a comfortable mother’s room.
Design:
Design Team: Manuel Navarro, Rosie Pawsey, Gerry Triyadi
Contractor:
Photography: ,
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