PandaDoc Office in Minsk, Belarus by Studio11.

PandaDoc Office in Minsk, Belarus by Studio11 | Yellowtrace

If an office layout could be defined by the quote “But first, coffee…” then this is the place. Studio11 has completed a new project in Minsk for PandaDoc and has cleverly structured the floor plan and circulation area around coffee points. Finally, an office design worthy of all the caffeine dependent employees.

The 1,200 square meter interior, boldly coloured by the deft hand of Studio11, is divided into four large open plan spaces and a fifth for the communal kitchen. But this is where the genius of the coffee bar works. Instead of the teams having to make their way to the main kitchen space, they simply pop up in their own workspace area to refuel.

“The zoning of each block includes an entrance space with a wardrobe visually separated from the work spaces. On the opposite side of the wardrobes, each open-space is closed by a small coffee point facing the window line,” explain the architects.

PandaDoc Office in Minsk, Belarus by Studio11 | Yellowtrace

If truth be told, it’s not just the rich, bitter beverage that prompted this idea. It’s based on what all good open plan design should be about – communication. Transparent communication born of serendipitous meetings enabling teams to cross-pollinate ideas and increase dialogue. “The coffee point for each block is a leisure place carrying a social and communicative function,” said the architects.

The chance meeting of work colleagues is physically enhanced by the direction of the powder blue promenade, which runs along the perimeter of the entire office connecting all of the work spaces.

“The coffee points of each of the blocks are located exactly on the way of the promenade, implying places for short-term meetings of members from different teams. For this purpose, the coffee points are equipped with markerboards, which creates effective conditions for discussions,” explains the design team.

But the fit-out, as one might expect, is not all about how to get your caffeine fix. Colour is resplendent in this space. Studio11 have an exceptional ability to take bold colours and apply them to connect spaces together but also to divide them. Pastel blues, bright oranges and the use of specific geometric forms are all hallmarks of a Studio11 design. The carpet of two colours – background grey with accents of rectilinear black. The coloured vinyl flooring in the kitchen, with its strong geometric pattern and the meeting rooms in blue or burgundy. Refreshingly, there is no fear of the application of colour here. At no point does it look childish or seem overly saccharine. Instead, Studio11 have managed to achieve both a sophisticated palette and a dynamic one. And potentially… a gittery one, depending on how many folks take them up on the 24/7 coffee hit.