MAO MAGAZINE
OFFICES

 “We should feel better at work than at home.” This is our philosophy at Creneau International. Contrary to the typical cold and anonymous workplace, we created a personal interior. Maomagazine represents a platform for analytical journalism and covers underground culture. The journalists needed a flexible workplace, which reflected their personality. Therefore, we wanted to avoid every form of neutral and minimalistic design, creating an open interior adapted to the necessities of its users.

Mao Magazine

Mao Magazine

Because of the severeness of certain reports they publish, the general atmosphere in the Maomagazine offices could not be labelled too ‘happy’. This serious character is reflected in the scale of colours, for example, though the use of some vivid colours avoids a too gloomy basis.

WE SHOULD 

FEEL BETTER

 AT WORK 

THAN AT 

HOME

WE SHOULD 

FEEL BETTER

 AT WORK 

THAN AT 

HOME

Mao Magazine

However, the seriousness of the profession doesn’t exclude the necessity to feel comfortable at work. To meet with that necessity, they created pleasant parlors where everyone can relax or organize a meeting. We feel that every company should revise the classic concept of a meeting and offer this kind of ‘come along corners’. Next to the parlors in the office, there’s a bar with the same function.

Mao Magazine

Mao Magazine

The absence of very solid or modular furniture on the one hand, shows the abandoning of neutral design. The desks for example, are made of a varnished or dark painted MDF top and some galvanized tubes with clearly visible joints. On the other hand, the offices of the journalists differ from the traditional workplaces because of their variety and their personal character. Here, every journalist has his own built-in cabinet at his desk, with a glass panel, behind which he or she can put a card or a picture, giving it a personal touch.

Mao Magazine

Mao Magazine

 The most striking feature is the long passage next to the offices which leads to the conference room. Along one walls of the passage there’s an electric light sign that projects all sorts of interesting news. Although the raw steel isn’t a very refined material, it represents a firm, well finished aspect. The same material also turns up in the conference room, where it functions as a notice board. Another wall in the same room is the back of a closet situated in the adjoining room, making up the free space in between with glass. By covering the black side of the closet with a layer of blackboard paint, it gets a double function.

Scope of work

interior design
production

Year

2005

Location

Client

Mao Magazine

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