Montalba Architects incorporates meditation areas into Headspace office – Dezeen

Employees are encouraged to take a breather at the expanded, Santa Monica headquarters for meditation company Headspace, which was designed by American firm Montalba Architects.

The office is located in the Bergamot Station Arts Center, a former trolley stop and industrial campus that has been converted into galleries, design studios and offices.

Headspace which was founded in 2010 in London and offers various meditation services, including a popular app has been based at the Santa Monica complex since 2016.

Due to its rapid growth, the company needed more space. It turned to Montalba Architects, which is also located in Bergamot Station, to renovate and expand its headquarters. The overall aim was to create an environment that aligned with the company's mission to "improve the health and happiness of the world".

"It was important that the office's design reflect the company's values of mindfulness, innovation and dedicated purpose," the team said in a description.

The project entailed extending the company's office into an adjacent, two-storey building and creating an outdoor courtyard. The full project totalled 22,000 square feet (2,044 square metres).

The team also upgraded structural components and building systems, such as electrical, plumbing and drainage.

To give the building a clean look, walls, ceilings and other surfaces were painted white. Concrete floors were paired with white oak finishes and contemporary decor, including whimsical spinning chairs from Herman Miller. Rubber and felt were used in select areas, such as pinup spaces, for acoustical purposes.

On the ground floor, the team placed a variety of workspaces, several conference rooms and a spacious kitchen. The upper level houses an executive suite, additional meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace.

The office is configured in a way that allows employees to work and socialise as a group, or to have moments of solitude.

"To honour the core values of the company, we created small spaces where employees could find a moment of personal solace that wouldn't deter from the surrounding communal environment," said firm principal David Montalba.

"Freestanding meditation pods and quiet meditation areas are available throughout the space to allow employees additional moments of solitude whenever necessary."

One of the key features in the office is a wide stairway that provides access to the second floor while also serving as a seating area. A large screen rolls down in the front of the stairs, allowing for presentations.

A glass, bi-fold garage door separates the stairs from the courtyard, where employees can take in sunlight and fresh air. The outdoor space also helps brighten up interior rooms.

"The open-air enclosure filters light and greenery into previously dark, isolated spaces and offers a necessary moment of reprieve within the buzzing office environment," the team said.

Started in 2004, Montalba Architects is based in Santa Monica and has a satellite office in Lausanne, Switzerland. Other projects by the studio include an Equinox gym in Vancouver that features earthy materials paired with concrete, and the conversion of a trailer into a mobile dental clinic.

Photography is by Kevin Scott.

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Montalba Architects incorporates meditation areas into Headspace office - Dezeen