A direct and concise client brief: "concrete and vegetation". That is how Holcim, the cement manufacturer, challenged Tétris to rethink its reception and meeting spaces within the historic site of Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, located about twenty kilometers from Lyon, housing its Innovation Center and new international Showroom.
As a global leader in innovative and sustainable construction solutions, Holcim aimed to highlight its activities and the concrete material through modernized spaces that reflect its image.
Tétris' intervention took place in several stages: renovating the existing building with its reception areas, followed by the complete design of the last floor of the building, also known as the "Innovation Center." Recently constructed, it connects its state-of-the-art Showroom with the new reception area.
To connect the "Innovation Center" with the existing reception and entrance areas, Tétris has envisioned a thoughtful universe that brings spaces back to life and reimagines their functionality.
Inspired by the aesthetics of Japanese gardens, it creates a seamless composition of various reception and circulation zones, blending different postures: the "Islands" waiting area, the "Source" bar, the "Patio" cocktail space, and more.
The design showcases the integration of vegetation and concrete, appearing on walls and in the arrangements, with diverse finishes (tones, patterns, textures). Tétris went to great lengths to achieve both technical and aesthetic excellence, incorporating unique and surprising elements. For example, curved white ribbed concrete planters, embedded black concrete countertops, and a "sky" composed of nearly 500 colorful paper strips, creating a striking focal point at the reception.
The design of the last floor of the new "Innovation Center" building maintains a coherent and strong brand identity. This floor, connected to the Showroom, is primarily dedicated to meetings and accessible to international visitors. It offers various types of open and enclosed spaces, and the furniture installed by Tétris ensures optimal working conditions in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.
The entire Design - Build & Furniture Solutions project team was delighted to accompany Holcim in this technical and aesthetic challenge, covering an area of over 1,300 square meters, to revive a strong identity within this emblematic site.
