Enjoei Headquarter Office

Enjoei Headquarter Office

Enjoei Headquarter Office is an award-winning interior space design project that exemplifies the contemporary requalification of modernist architectural heritage through sustainable design principles and innovative spatial planning within the iconic Copan building in São Paulo, Brazil. Occupying 2,100 square meters within Oscar Niemeyer's seminal 1950s architectural masterwork, this workplace design represents a sophisticated dialogue between historical preservation and contemporary functional requirements, demonstrating how obsolete commercial spaces within historic urban centers can be revitalized through responsible architectural intervention. The design concept was structured around three fundamental pillars: sustainability, accessibility, and fostering a sense of belonging among approximately 230 employees, while maintaining reverence for Niemeyer's established modernist vocabulary and the building's original spatial logic. The project's spatial organization draws inspiration from Niemeyer's original vision of the Copan terrace as an elevated garden and continuation of the street, reinterpreting this concept through the creation of an internal circulation system that functions as an urban street, with the existing terrace serving as the primary organizational spine that leads to the main entrance at the central point of the curved layout. The design language emphasizes material contrast and scale manipulation to create a fluid environment where each architectural element connects seamlessly, employing a predominantly white color palette to generate a floating, futuristic atmosphere that contrasts with the building's robust concrete structure and large internal pillars. Sustainability considerations permeate every aspect of the project, from the decision to restore original finishes rather than strip them, to the use of existing subfloors as final flooring surfaces, thereby reducing waste and minimizing the need for new materials. Recycled fabrics were incorporated throughout the space, exclusive carpet designs were commissioned, and unique furniture pieces were carefully curated to support the overall design narrative while maintaining budgetary constraints. The meeting rooms were conceived with cost-effective solutions that simultaneously address acoustic quality requirements, deliberately avoiding large glass panels in favor of materials that provide superior sound insulation. The spatial experience unfolds rhythmically, guided by the building's characteristic large pillars, with perception revealing itself gradually through movement, creating moments of tension and release as occupants navigate between the primary and secondary access points near the elevator. The employee ecosystem is strategically positioned near natural light sources and directly connected to the internal circulation streets, ensuring optimal working conditions while maintaining visual and physical connections to the urban context beyond. The design process involved extensive research into the Copan building's history and Niemeyer's architectural philosophy, examining how the original conception as a permeable, street-connected space could inform contemporary workplace design. This investigation extended into broader architectural theory and art production, seeking ethical and aesthetic references that aligned with the organizational culture of a second-hand e-commerce platform while addressing the practical requirements of acoustic quality, numerous meeting rooms, and integrated workspaces within a predetermined budget. The project timeline spanned from November 2023 to July 2024, encompassing both design development and construction phases, during which the design team navigated the challenge of creating a peaceful, quiet, and innovative environment that respected the established modernist architecture while demonstrating the viability of revitalizing obsolete buildings in São Paulo's historic center. The strong connection with the street and city, the rhythmic quality of the large pillars that brings depth and movement to spatial perception, the vibrancy of the corner curve as a meeting point, and the terrace as a permeable area for views and breathing all shaped the investigation into appropriate design languages for this new occupation. The resulting interior space successfully blends the architectural quality, iconic solidity, and diversity of the Copan building with contemporary workplace requirements, creating an environment where layers of reality, desire, poetry, and urban identity intertwine with the extensive programmatic requirements while maintaining spontaneity in design execution. The project's success is evidenced by the transformation in employee experience, with team members who previously worked from home offices now enthusiastically occupying the space daily, demonstrating how thoughtful interior design can positively impact organizational culture and individual well-being. Designed by Gema Arquitetura, with team members Nara Grossi, Joseana Costa, Giuliana Mora, Bárbara Olyntho, and Ana Koga, the Enjoei Headquarter Office received the Silver A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category in 2025, recognizing its excellence in innovative use of space, material selection, functional layout design, sustainable design practice, and cultural relevance. The Silver A' Design Award designation acknowledges designs that are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works illustrating outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity, with recipient designs expected to be wonderful, showpiece works that are remarkably professional and profoundly innovative, standing for their strong technical characteristics, splendid artistic skill, original innovations, discerning emotional elements, and insightful creativity.

Interior Space Design, Heritage Requalification, Sustainable Architecture, Modernist Renovation, Workplace Design, Oscar Niemeyer

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Enjoei Headquarter Office.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/enjoei-headquarter-office?E=483022 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"