A Look Inside CoBAC’s Istanbul Coworking Space

Coworking space provider CoBAC recently hired interior design studio mimaristudio to design their new office in Istanbul, Turkey.

“During the design of CoBAC Workspace, which was brought to life by the transformation of an existing office building with a total area of 2.800 m² on the coastline of the Golden Horn, the Mimaristudio team reflected the “people-oriented face” of the brand to the project, transformed the concept of “shared workspace” into a living space and took an approach that changes the traditional work culture.

By prioritizing the concept of “well-being”, Mimaristudio offered an interactive working environment with a highly efficient and productive space where the users who spend most of their time indoors and reliant on technology can be not only physically but also mentally healthy and content. Therefore, the users are now able to work with maximum daylight, constant fresh air, and relevant thermal and acoustic comfort conditions while enjoying the freedom to choose where, when, and how to work within the framework of activity-based working principles.

Starting with the planning process, the design team also included 14 biophilic design paths under the concepts of “Nature in Space”, “Natural Reminders”, “Nature of Space” within the biophilic design approach to the project by using both materials and forms, and nature itself. In addition to the terrace areas of different sizes on the levels, the fully open-air area planned on the top level allows users to enjoy the outdoors freely and feel the Historical Peninsula, the Golden Horn, and the city.

Instead of using a repetitive layout plan, the design team brought flexibility to all floors with publicly social spaces that everyone can freely use, working and meeting areas in various scales, functions, and forms. Using the next-generation products that prioritize ergonomics, Mimaristudio proposed a working environment where people can work not only sitting but also standing up.

In the open work areas, the issues of “quietness” and “quiet working environment”, which are the biggest problems of the work areas, were carefully handled alongside the acoustic criteria planned in the design process. Not only to prevent sound from entering the closed rooms but also to ensure that people can work in the open area without disturbing anyone else, materials and strategies suitable for the design process were proposed considering the interior acoustic measures. “Moon” wall/ceiling panels and “Make-up” acoustic lighting products, which are designed by Ayça Akkaya Kul and developed and produced by Feltouch, are among the notable details of the place.

The epidemic and its effects were also considered separately. During the planning stage, the floor plans were developed by paying particular attention to the importance of space and volume per capita. It was planned to provide maximum fresh air to people working on the floors and to reduce interpersonal contact by using different separators in areas where people work in a steady position for long hours.”