Consultancy firm Olesiński i Wspólnicy has a new headquarters in Wrocław’s Renoma. The unique interiors of approximately 2,200 sq m, inspired by modernism and art-deco, were arranged by architects from re:build studio together with Robak Piasta Architekci and specialists from the Workplaces department at Globalworth Poland.
Renoma has been a symbol of Wrocław and a flagship work of European modernism for years. The building continually impresses, and its excellent location, superbly designed spaces and unique offer attract new tenants. Advisors chose Renoma for its new headquarters because of its prestige and convenient location, which is important for the company’s employees and clients.
The approximately 2,200 sq m office is located on the second floor in the historic part of Renoma, with windows along Świdnicka Street and Podwale. Workstations have been designed along the building’s façade and two skylights, and the space in between has been arranged for, among other things, conference rooms, a fashionable and functional kitchen that is also a meeting place, or rooms for telephone conversations. The entire space has been finished with ubiquitous vegetation and art elements.
The new headquarters is located in a building with a recognisable art-deco design, so references to the original 1930s interiors were a leading inspiration. Delicate ceramic tiles on the walls, geometric divisions on the ceilings and glass light fittings are all elements that have been introduced into the space in reference to those of the 1930s. Due to the large area of the office and to facilitate orientation in the space, spatial dominants and a consistent colour scheme were introduced for the various functions and zones. Together with the investor, we took care to make secondary use of elements that were part of the furnishings and finishes of the office in the previous location. We decided to relocate, among other things, wooden wall cladding, acoustic concrete slabs, movable furniture, workstations and even part of the recessed housing, which required coordination, at a very early stage of the concept. The predominant colours in the arrangement are grey and beige, which are warmed up by wooden elements. Art-deco interiors are also plastic surfaces with divisions and textures. We tried to achieve this through materials such as corrugated sheet metal and wood wool, which is also a sound-absorbing material. Such a solution increases the comfort and improves the acoustics,” comments Kinga Łukaszyńska, architect, re:build studio.
In the arrangement, the architects from re:build studio and Workplaces at Globalworth focused on preserving historical details and a minimalist colour scheme. As a result, they achieved unique spaces in which history blends perfectly with modernity.
The space, specially adapted to the company’s needs, includes separate rooms for individual teams and conference rooms. The interior combines the elegance of the art deco style with work ergonomics and concern for the environment. The workspaces are in shades of grey with wood details, the multi-purpose rooms inside the tracts are in beige with plywood quatrefoil ceilings in the same colour, and the dominant features located in the 3 wings of the office, which are min. the sanitary block, are highlighted by corrugated metal wall cladding in green.
We wanted the new office to be a welcoming place for both employees and their visitors. We wanted it to be comfortable, modern and at the same time relate to the architecture of the entire building. Together with the architects from re:build studio, we were able to achieve this effect. We combined an elegant, lounge-like atmosphere with numerous details alluding to the unique Renoma development. The realisation of such a prestigious project is a great challenge and satisfaction. I am convinced that the office space of the law firm will be functional, aesthetically pleasing and also conducive to integration for its users,” says Przemysław Sus, Project Manager, Workplaces department at Globalworth.
The office in Renoma is used by the entire OW Group, which has been supporting businesses with legal, tax, analytical and accounting projects for 18 years. The new office is the workplace for Olesiński i Wspólnicy, but also OW Accounting & Payroll (accounting, HR and payroll consultancy services), OW Analytics (performs financial analysis) and Saurus Grow (Administration). The cluster of specialists brings together different, often distant competences, creating teams that focus on specific projects rather than just narrow areas of law or tax.
Renoma is one of Wrocław’s most recognisable buildings and an icon of modernist architecture. The building opened in 1930 under its original name, Wertheim Department Store, and was designed by Berlin architect Hermann Dernburg. The facades of the building were decorated with sculptures of heads of people from different regions of the world, which still exist today and are intended to symbolise not only the international origin of the goods on offer, but above all cultural diversity and openness towards others. Destroyed as a result of the war, the Wertheim Department Store was partially rebuilt and opened in 1948 as the General Department Store, and all its floors were opened only in 1985. It was then that the building took its current name, chosen in a competition by the inhabitants of Wrocław.
In 2009, Renoma was rebuilt and extended according to a design by Wrocław architect Zbigniew Maćkow. The lower floors housed more than 120 shops and service outlets, while the upper floors were occupied by offices and a restaurant area. In 2023, another metamorphosis was completed, which restored the pre-war architecture of the courtyards, enriched the offer and gave the building new functions and amenities. Renoma is one of three office and retail projects in Globalworth Poland’s portfolio, alongside Warsaw’s Hala Koszyki and Katowice’s Supersam.
