On the C-mine site, in the side building of the mine, you can find the offices of both Vaimo and EASI. Two different IT companies who had a common need to attract new talent, joined forces to share this unique space. Vaimo set up their headquarters, while EASI housed their satellite office here.

Two different company cultures under one roof requires the right balance between privacy and shared space. A good office can only work if the needs and wishes of its residents are taken into account. Through a few inspirational brainstorms and an extensive questionnaire, we collected all their wishes and needs in an efficient way. This way we got to know each other better as well, which resulted in a very pleasant journey from the first drawing to the completed project.

Vaimo and EASI are both companies in the IT sector. On the work floor, they are mainly involved with data, software and cloud. Words that are abstract and intangible. That’s why we found it very important to make a connection with nature in their offices. Nature in the widest sense of the word; a good mix of warm colors and fabrics, textures and surprising materials. And all this with respect for the character of the building.

The entrance of the offices is not a classic entrance with a receptionist. It looks more like a hotel lobby or a bar. This multifunctional space focuses on the interaction between the two companies. We called it Basecamp.

Overall, Basecamp has natural and earthy tones. The two brickwork walls add a surprising texture and a graphic rhythm to the space. The green bar with terrazzo worktop has purposely been highlighted to draw attention to the social side of this area. When the sun is out, ‘common sky’, the 150 sqm terrace, offers a beautiful outdoor extension for all employees.

Since Belgium is a very small country and big cities (such as Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp) offer more and more work opportunities, traffic jams around these cities are getting worse year by year. With offices in Leuven, Ghent, Nivelles and Liège, EASI is aware of this growing problem and provides an answer with its new satellite office in Genk. EASI invests in Limburg’s local talent and offers its employees a ‘traffic-free’ workplace.

Walking into the EASI offices, you will be welcomed in a lounge which – extra credits! –actually doubles as a game room. The central coffee corner separates the different departments by two colored glass walls. These glass walls add a refreshing touch to the space, yet keep it transparent at the same time. The repetition of the brickwork walls adds tactility and rhythm.

All cupboards and cabinets are custom made. The MDF boards finished with oak edges add some subtle color and texture to the office. On the central wooden platform, there is a meeting room and a flex desk where employees can easily plug in. The private offices are used flexibly and serve as extra meeting booths when the managers do not occupy them.

There’s a clean desk policy at EASI. No one has a fixed place, at the end of the day all desks should be empty.

Interestingly, not only the workplaces are flexible, but the entire office is built in a way that allows for all offices to merge together if one day that is necessary.

What does EASI think about it?”

”The design of the new office is very nice. The desks are spacious and make you want to buckle down and get to work. Still, it’s a bit like home because of the cozy seats and our PlayStation. Once in a while we started making lasagna for everyone in our large kitchen. This has evolved into a monthly food-sharing event. Our lunch often feels like a family party.”

Welcome at Vaimo. Lots of wood and warm colors complement the original industrial brick walls that remained intact. We built a tribune for Vaimo’s daily stand-ups, a wooden volume that stands out nicely within this space, and we implemented a quiet room for those who need a retreat from the hustle.

The office was designed according to the agile principle. This principle focuses on individuals and interactions rather than processes and systems. For example, you’ll receive feedback on your project quickly and you’ll assess the direction of a project during its development cycle. To support this methodology, we took it into account while designing the Vaimo office.

Which means:

— Workplaces are divided into groups, located in different places around the office. Each group has maximum 6-12 places.

— Instead of creating 2 big meeting rooms (the way classical offices are designed), there’s several smaller meeting rooms.

— Separate acoustic booths for making a call.

The meeting rooms are all designed differently. There’s a Dark Room where you can meet ‘on another level’. It’s a black meeting room with an oval table for 6 and a super soft lounge sofa to relax. The space underneath this platform is used as storage. The Chill-out Room is a meeting space with two very soft sofas. It is more appropriate for brainstorms or long calls. Then there’s the War Room, a cozy bunker for long ‘hackatons’. It has direct access to the kitchenette for a much needed dose of coffee, fresh beverages and snacks.

People spend more time at the office than at home. (Note that this was a pre-corona project.) That's why this office has an extra homey atmosphere. And because tasks are much more complex anno 2020 than in the 1950’s, we created the right mood for the right task.Standard workstations are mixed with soft lounge areas. Ideal for challenging your colleague to a Playstation game or for settling in and doing some work on your laptop.

What does Vaimo think about it?

Because we’re in such a nice, cozy space now with a well-equipped kitchen, it’s a pleasure to be here with colleagues. For example, we recently organized Super Spaghetti Friday! It was such a success that we set up a party committee that arranges for more of such initiatives to be realized!”