Alma Tominga office building’s second-to-last floor recently became home to the technology company Breakwater Technology. The company’s HR specialist, Karin Požidajev, discussed, among other things, what the employee handbook’s pet insurance policy entails. Interior architecture firm LÄVI’s interior architect, Silvia Leet, described how they created a cozy office and why OCCO has been their reliable partner for a long time.
The Old Nest Became Too Small
“As our company is growing, we needed a larger office space: over twenty people joined us last month. In fact, it was foreseeable for a long time that the company would expand, and the old office would become too small, so we started looking for a new one,” explained Požidajev.
When creating the office, the focus was on making everyone feel comfortable in the new environment. Those who prefer not to work in the office can always choose to work from home. However, the majority of the team prefers to be on-site. “We wanted to create a pleasant, spacious, and well-lit environment for them,” Požidajev elaborated.
“Since we have many foreigners in our team, one of the office’s functions is socialization,” Požidajev pointed out. During free moments, employees have the opportunity to relax in a massage chair, play PlayStation, or board games – it was important to create an environment for both work and leisure.
How Was the Office Created?
The interior design of Breakwater’s new office was handled by the interior architecture firm LÄVI. “Our task was to create an open office with nearly 120 workstations, separated work areas with partition curtains, various-sized meeting rooms, and four individual cabins,” explained LÄVI’s interior architect, Silvia Leet. As the company’s team expanded, they also wanted a more comfortable and larger dining and gathering area.
“We started by creating a space program to determine how many workstations could actually fit within the area,” Leet described. “Although the structural aspect is initially important, as interior architects, we always have our thoughts one step ahead, planning even custom furniture solutions.”
One of the tasks for interior architects was to blend the existing furniture with the new concept because Breakwater wanted to make the most of the furniture from their previous office – the company’s goal was to create an environmentally-friendly office, just as the entire Alma Tominga office building operates. Leet mentioned that it’s always a good challenge for interior architects – how to integrate both older and newer furniture pieces into a fresh space.
At this point, OCCO came to the rescue, and together, they delivered and installed all the furniture. According to Leet, OCCO has been a long-standing and reliable partner for LÄVI’s interior architects, and they have worked on several projects together. “Together with them, we implemented solutions for custom and purchased furniture and OCCO has always been a great help in finding alternatives to different products so that we could stay within budget and ultimately deliver the necessary furniture.”
Bright and Cozy Office
“In terms of the overall concept, the company’s main desire was to have a bright and cozy office with light-colored walls, characterized by elements in the brand’s colors,” Leet described. The office’s overall atmosphere reflects this: a large glass façade provides a view of the airport, there are brighter color accents and plants in the rooms. When selecting furniture, they also considered the company’s two main colors, which are orange and blue.
“Often, it’s not practical to incorporate all of the brand’s colors directly into interior design, and you can use the more muted shades of those colors to ensure that the overall look remains cozy and timeless,” Leet explained.
Polite Office Dogs
The office is now ready, and the Breakwater family has settled in comfortably. Besides employees, you can see four-legged companions in the office almost every day. The company’s employee handbook even includes a separate pet policy, which has been discussed with employees to ensure that no one is startled or feels uncomfortable when encountering office dogs. The rules are as follows: only one dog is allowed in the office at a time, provided that it behaves properly and does not disrupt employees.
“We talk to everyone to find out if anyone has a dog allergy or if anyone is bothered by having a dog in the office. Fortunately, everyone has been satisfied with the office dogs so far. We have quite a few dogs, and they are all very cute and calm,” said Požidajev.
The coffee corner became popular
The environment created by LÄVI and furnished with OCCO is enjoyable for both the furry friends and the employees. What are Leet’s and Požidajev’s favorite elements in the newly completed office? “I really like the view of the airport and the hot-desking area with a coffee corner,” Leet mentioned. “One fun element is the orange steel hanging ladder installed on the ceiling.”
Požidajev also pointed out her favorites: the view of Tallinn Airport and the shared kitchen area, which has become a popular gathering spot. “There is plenty of seating space – it’s like sitting in a cozy café atmosphere, chatting with colleagues.”
