In order to retain or attract qualified employees, more and more employers understand that it is necessary to create an environment where people enjoy spending time. This means modern office design and thoughtful layout, where, in addition to the equipment necessary for performing direct work duties, consideration has also been given to places where people can socialize, relax, or work in small teams. Tenants at the New Hanza office building at 1 M. Tāla Street in Riga can now enjoy all of this, as the second floor of the building, covering an area of just under 500 square meters, has been converted into co-working spaces that are available to all tenants of the building.

During the project planning stage, several layout versions were created with the participation of the developer and a team of professionals from the RADADARA design studio. The aim of the space planning concept was to separate two zones so that one of them could be used for events with catering and a relaxation area (conferences, training, seminars, etc.), while daily work would continue in the other part of the office (meeting rooms, individual or team work).

The premises feature an open-plan office with nine workstations and a children's play area, a conference room that can accommodate up to 60 people, six smaller meeting rooms, a relaxation room, and a co-working space with a kitchen.

The interior design concept was developed to ensure high acoustic, lighting and environmental comfort in the premises. Durable and environmentally friendly solutions were used in the interior design, such as Ecophon Industry and Illy acoustic ceiling panels, Interface carpet flooring, Gerflor Attraction vinyl flooring, and Zilenzio wall acoustic panels. The aim of the furniture concept was to create a cozy living room feel, allowing users to relax in various relaxation areas – the kitchen with a dining area, a relaxation area with seating of various sizes and types, and a meditation, short-term relaxation, and quiet room with light color therapy. The work areas were designed to be attractive and promote new energy impulses for productivity.

In the relaxation area, special attention was paid to the kitchen. "Most often, kitchens in offices are designed as small cubicles where employees don't even have a place to sit down. We wanted to create an inspiring environment where people could eat their packed lunches or takeaway meals in a peaceful atmosphere," says project designer Anete Šalma. Since the kitchen area is located deep inside the building, where there is little natural light, bright colors were deliberately introduced into the interior to create a lively atmosphere. Natural plants are widely used in the rooms, and the building is surrounded by greenery that imitates a natural meadow. Inspired by this concept, Ukrainian artist Ludmila Natsvlishvili created a wall painting in the kitchen area that references natural elements and colors, adapting it to the overall interior palette.

A large bookshelf has been installed in the central relaxation area to create a pleasant accent and a feeling of cosiness. To allow employees to take a break after intense moments of work and change their focus, a special drawer for books has also been installed here – for reading and mutual exchange of reading material. Most of the furniture in the co-working office has been designed in-house and individually crafted by MD Noass.

The bright red and mustard-colored soft furniture is one of the elements that brings a playful feel to the room and also matches the overall interior style and color scheme of the building. The comfortable sofas and upholstered furniture were selected from Italian manufacturers Lacividina, Scab, True Design, and Swedish manufacturer Zilenzio.

With a creative approach and attention to detail, the RADADARA design team has succeeded in creating spaces that not only meet all the requirements of a modern working environment, but also offer an aesthetic and pleasant working experience. These spaces are a perfect example of how design can promote productivity and well-being by creating a work environment where employees feel inspired and motivated.