Firm： Methanoia + BMA + EEI

Type： Commercial › Office

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2019

Mercado Libre, Latin America’s largest e-commerce company, wanted a new concept to shape its offices in Buenos Aires. The brand sought to transform traditional office’s hierarchical distribution into a space that resembles Mercado Libre’s innovative and fresh identity. The company was especially interested in the idea of a social staircase.

The design proposal focuses on turning workspace into a network, a connected place capable of reprogramming depending on use. In that spirit, it introduced the concept of ‘links’, an interpretation of the “social staircase” which alters both building circulation and interaction.

Links are oval-shaped structures that connect storeys. Instead of a traditional long staircase crossing levels vertically, these structures are spreaded among floors.

The horizontal distribution presents numerous possibilities to navigate the building and by offering different paths for people to move through the levels, the structures make a more democratic workspace. In essence, links disrupt the conventional hierarchical organisation of offices in storeys.

But they aren’t just conventional ladders. The structures also transform a place for passing through into social gathering points. They offer the possibility to work as recreational spots, coffee points, conference and workshop rooms.

Links work as a system and create a dynamic environment that encourages bonding between people from all areas of the company and strengthens their sense of belonging.

Links: