Settled into the gentle side of a valley surrounded by a Swiss alpine ridge, this Japanese multinational has commissioned its corporate headquarters with the intention to convey a very precise message. As one of the largest manufacturers of health related products (oral care, hair care, personal care) worldwide, their presence in this setting joins Swiss manufacturing precision and the country’s healthy life style and environment with a design that harnesses all of these principles.
The design of this three story, sky-lit courtyard building demonstrates a strong commitment to quality of life in the workplace. It is day-lit, and naturally ventilated, casting its offices against a bright and panoramic perimeter, and larger open work spaces within the courtyard.
Break out spaces for natural, informal conversation are an intermittent part of the general circulation. Corporate meeting rooms share the same interaction with light and view, as well as views of the activities across the courtyard itself promising a strong sense of visual corporate identity throughout.
The feel of the building is warm and yet precise: concrete exterior paneling matches beautifully with the use of gneiss, a local Swiss stone for the full expanse of the ground floor. The rhythmic pattern of the glass and wood louver façade trips up the static concrete and stone palette, making for an undulating visual impact.
Whether approaching the building from its entrance or driving by it on the main highway on the opposite side the structure has an upbeat effect on the landscape. It is dynamic, reflective, well lit, and light-handed. The interchange of exterior and interior materials lightens the structure, makes it feel inextricable from the valley it inhaits.
Wood finishes, open glass walls and green tatami-like carpeting join Japanese serenity with an Italian architectural sensibility. The high level of finishes and precisely planned spaces make for a welcoming and stimulating work environment. No better message to its visiting clientele: a high level product finds its corporate home in a design that accords good health to its corporate culture as well as its ultimate customer.