In close collaboration with Swisscom Corporate Real Estate Management and Swisscom Brand & Strategy, MACH has developed an experience playbook for the future working landscape of the Swiss technology company. Spanning nearly 3,000 square meters, the pilot project serves as a real-world testing ground for innovative spatial strategies, functional concepts, and design solutions tailored to evolving employee needs.
At its core is a clear spatial organization into three zones: Connect, Collaborate, and Concentrate. Each area is designed to support specific modes of work—from social interaction and teamwork to focused individual tasks—while addressing distinct acoustic, functional, and emotional requirements. This zoning approach enables a flexible and intuitive use of space throughout the working day.
The design prioritizes a high-quality user experience, integrating ergonomics, acoustics, lighting, and biophilic elements to enhance comfort and well-being. Carefully designed shared spaces foster a sense of community, while the overall environment reflects and reinforces Swisscom’s brand identity.
As a prototype, the project validates these concepts in practice, generating valuable insights into how hybrid work environments can support productivity, collaboration, and employee satisfaction. At the same time, it establishes a scalable model for future workplace developments.
As part of the Future of Work transformation, MACH developed a gastro‑experience playbook in collaboration with Swisscom Corporate Real Estate Management and Swisscom Brand & Strategy. The playbook outlines how existing gastronomy areas can be designed as work, meeting, and social spaces while ensuring a consistent brand experience.
The vision – initiated by Swisscom – was to create a restaurant that could be meaningfully used beyond lunchtime. MACH translated this ambition into spatial form. For the first time, the restaurant at the Pfingstweidstrasse site in Zurich was reconceived as an all‑day space and redesigned together with the adjoining bistro.
The area is divided into a staff restaurant and a bistro, structured into clearly defined zones that support multiple uses while creating a cohesive spatial experience. A differentiated furnishing concept with high tables, lounge settings, seating alcoves, and flexible table‑and‑chair configurations enables a wide range of work and social activities.
Furniture, lighting, and the colour and material concept follow a unified design language that translates the Swisscom brand identity into a calm and contemporary interior.
The brand colours red, blue, and white are interpreted in restrained, timeless nuances. Terracotta, ice blue, petrol, and cream white define the overall look, lending the space a high‑quality and serene atmosphere. Acoustically effective ceiling panels subtly structure the room and significantly enhance the overall comfort.
A central feature is the high flexibility of the restaurant dining area, which can be transformed into an auditorium when needed. With just a few adjustments, the seemingly fixed bench elements can be repositioned to create a clear setup for presentations or events. This ensures the space can adapt to changing requirements and remain usable in the long term.
Today, the area represents a new quality of working and coming together at Swisscom. The former restaurant has evolved into a vibrant, multifunctional meeting place and a popular additional workspace within the site – enriching everyday life in a lasting way.
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