Dezeen Magazine

Nook Architects move into self-designed co-working space in Barcelona

Pods built from yellow chipboard and glass provide meeting spots inside this co-working office in Barcelona, created by local studio Nook Architects in the city's Poblenou district (+ slideshow).

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

Nook Architects joined forces with another local business to create the Zamness co-working office space, which is set within a 1970s building in a former industrial area of the city.

It serves as the studio's new permanent base, but there is also desk space that can be rented out to local companies for both long-term use and one-off events.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

To provide pockets of privacy and quiet within the transitory workspace, the architects inserted a pair of enclosed meeting spaces.

Each metal-framed pod has a pitched roof, with opaque yellow chipboard walls and panels of transparent glass that frame views of the office.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

"These volumes were originally thought of as rectangular boxes with flat roofs – the minimum structure for a meeting room," explained the architects.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

"As time went by, we deformed these, transforming them into asymmetric pieces by elevating the diagonal to the roof, increasing its volume up to the capacity set by the limits defined by the slab and the hung beams," they added.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

Gaps between the pods create routes through the space, as well as informal meeting spots against the building's floor to ceiling windows.

Zamness-Office-Space_Barcelona_Nook-Architects_dezeen_sqc

Nook Architects has previously remodelled a number of traditional tiled apartments across Barcelona by integrating storage into old arched doorways, using recycled materials and adding sliding partitions.

Here, spaces have been given a homely appearance similar to these apartments, with the addition of pot plants, sofas and rugs.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

A tile-clad bar and kitchen area is positioned against a white-painted brick wall at the back of the space.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

This socialising area is separated from the open-plan workspaces on the other side of the space by the two meeting pods, as well as a third containing a shower and toilets.


Related content: see more Barcelona interior projects by Nook Architects


The two meeting rooms turn their opaque walls towards the bar, while the hand-washing area of the toilet block is glazed.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

Wide, grey chipboard tables and yellow chairs furnish the communal workspace. Wooden shelving units and cupboards nestled between the existing concrete framework provide storage for books and office equipment.

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects

Photography is by Nieve/Productora Audiovisual.


Project credits:

Architecture: Nook Architects
Graphic design: Isidre Barnils
Concept: Zamness

Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects
Floor plan – click for larger image
Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects
Sections one and two – click for larger image
Zamness office, Barcelona by Nook Architects
Sections three and four – click for larger image