M Moser Associates gives Miro a dynamic space where the team can socialize, collaborate, experiment, and learn.
Project Overview:
- Design Firm: M Moser Associates
- Client: Miro
- Completion Date: October 2022
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Size: 30,000 sqft
- Population: 300
Leading visual collaboration platform, Miro witnessed considerable growth with the rise of hybrid work. The company approached M Moser Associates to help create a new hub in a historic building in Stadhouderskade. The new Miro Amsterdam workplace design offers a place for the team to grow and develop a thriving community.
Project Planning
The input from each team was decisive in creating a tailor-made space for Miro Amsterdam. M Moser explored in detail how the day-to-day work takes place, the daily activities, the weekly ones, and the monthly events.
There were several engagement activities with leadership and end-users to understand how, with this intervention, M Moser could shape the space so that every Miro activity could be carried out in a positive and efficient way.
Project Details
M Moser’s workplace strategy and design teams designed hospitality-inspired spaces with different amenities to spark creativity and encourage people to move around the area. Drawing on bold and colorful branding, the designers implemented pops of Miro’s personality around the space. Sculptural red chairs with elephant feet and a vibrant yellow logo add a dash of color and character to the communal area.
M Moser designed various meeting spaces for creativity, collaboration and focus. At the center of the botanical lounge is a lush green planter – studies show that plants help to increase productivity, boost creativity, heighten concentration levels and improve air quality. In this workplace design, the decoration, books and natural sounds give people a calm moment away from their desks.
The bar area doubles up as a workspace, encouraging ‘Mironeers’ to come together over lunch and plenty of barista coffee. Furthermore, large screens support community-building events like all-hands meetings or watching sports.
Other spaces include a wellbeing room with Tatami mats and soft neutral colors, creating an ideal place for people to escape to meditate or practice yoga.
Sustainability was a key driver throughout this project. In 2020 Amsterdam implemented a circular economy policy. The strategy aims to reduce the use of new raw materials, creating a more sustainable city. As a global leader in sustainable design and architecture, M Moser is focused on reducing waste and pioneering new design and construction methods.
At Miro’s workplace in Amsterdam, the design team retained the existing partitioning of spaces and repurposed existing materials. For example, the flooring was restored and the existing bar was kept. They also renewed the worktop, joinery and lighting. Where they needed new materials, sustainable options were chosen, for example, the fungi mycelial floor in the bar area. Furniture was leased to allow Miro to evolve and adapt as a growing company.
A big part of Miro’s expansion is how it helps companies innovate. Therefore, M Moser created spaces to test and develop new ideas and technologies. Every space in this workplace design is adaptable. Pouffes and chairs are easily moveable, and touch screens in every room allow people to share new ideas.
The campfire (pictured above), with comfy chairs and laptop tables arranged in a circle, provides an ideal place to brainstorm and offers greater flexibility for meetings. Raquel Machado, Senior Associate Design, adds: “By avoiding any hard physical barriers, we are able to provide a sense of freedom and flexibility, enabling users to set up different environments, as a way to get them out of their usual way of doing things.”
For example, standing meeting rooms provide space for quicker, more dynamic brainstorming. Research shows that standing meetings are, on average, 25% shorter than sitting meetings and tend to end on time or even early. These meetings also have added health benefits. Standing helps improve blood circulation resulting in a healthier and more productive team. Furthermore, attendees are less likely to get distracted by computer or phone notifications.
Featured Products
Overall Project Results
The new Amsterdam office has allowed for a team that grew during a WFH pandemic to breathe the Miro culture and come together, increasing creativity and in-person collaboration.
Furthermore, it allowed Miro to bring their virtual product to a physical environment, creating an immersive hybrid collaboration experience.
The result is a dynamic home where Miro’s team can socialize, collaborate, experiment, and learn.
Project Summary
Miro wanted a space to draw in visitors and showcase an advanced tech company with a fun, dynamic brand. A place to receive guests in an open, friendly and refreshing atmosphere. The goal was to create a workplace that would bring a remote team together in person. Due to rapid growth, Miro didn’t want to be too prescriptive about what the company’s in-office culture should look like.
By using the spatial framework M Moser designed, the team could develop it organically. In partnership with Nornorm, the design team was able able to define typologies that can be changed as part of a furniture lease agreement. This way Miro will be able to pilot areas and learn their team’s behavior and preferences.
Design Team
- Raquel Machado
- Ella Cain
- Joelle Corradi
Photography credit
- Jordi Hausman
