Europastry Headquarters

“Prioritizing the collective well-being over the individual, betting on the democratization of spaces, and enhancing relationships and knowledge exchange have been Bea Portabella’s objectives in designing the new offices of Europastry.

Continuity has been the central theme both in the layout and in the choice of materials and finishes, which are also used as a code to highlight areas and functions.

The Bea Portabella studio is behind the design of the new offices for the food company Europastry in Sant Cugat. The project, which arose from the need to expand the operational space due to continuous growth, was an opportunity to create a flexible and distinctive space that reflected the company’s philosophy, a global leader in the food sector. “The goal was to create a workspace that could adapt over time; an open space that encouraged interaction between teams; offices that were open to workers, with few spatial hierarchies and continuous flow and interaction between departments.”

“The spatial objective was to reverse the scheme of the old offices, prioritizing collective well-being over individual well-being,” explains the architect. “We aimed for a calm, serene atmosphere without any harshness. The materials are noble and straightforward, while also being elegant and refined. Natural light was meant to reach all areas of the floor. We envisioned a simple and homogeneous design, with characteristic elements defined by their boldness and repetition, which in turn created the different spaces and the layout.”

The program included a relationship and work area for the different departments, with potential for future growth, meeting spaces of various sizes and functions, project rooms, conference rooms, a cafeteria, showroom, and services.

Three key elements defined the space, layout, atmosphere, and image of the project:

An opaque central core:
With a different color on each floor, it serves as a containing element where more private functions, such as storage and lockers, are placed.

Closed space modules:
A series of oak wood and glass modules, arranged parallel to the East and West façades, run the entire length of the floor and house closed offices of varying sizes. The corners are curved to add softness and flow, and to bring diversity and movement to the layout, voids or interruptions are created along the façade, which serve as meeting, decompression, or access spaces.

The distribution scheme is repeated in the choice of materials, furniture, and lighting, functional in the operational area and more personal in the enclosed or relational spaces. The materials are selected in tones that match the project’s language, a continuous theme that is only contrasted at select points with more unique details, such as special finishes or higher-end furniture. The flooring uses Interface carpet with a raffia appearance, while the ceiling features acoustic slats that emphasize the distribution and importance of the longitudinal axes.”