When I considered that the name of the company in question for this story was Citrix – “a cloud, computing, networking and virtualisation technologies company transforming how people, businesses and IT work and collaborate in the cloud era” – I couldn’t help but imagine the fit-out as a swathe of garish orange fruitiness, with a logo comprised of segments of an orange. Thankfully, the designers on this project, from HBO+EMTB and under the leadership of Niki Harrison, had a greater depth of design reason. The office, as you see it here, is measured and refined, but also ‘fun’. Citrix staff members are often on-site at times that correspond with their global counterparts and clients, which meant providing comfortable surroundings, break-out spaces and opportunities for entertainment in non-focused work times.

HBO+EMTB says its strategy for this research-and-development facility was aligned with its advocacy of flexible work environments. “The design for Citrix organises the reception, work floor, boardroom and break-out areas to maximise the crossover between the employee and client-facing areas,” says Harrison. The goal was to successfully implement “an inviting and flexible work environment that reflects the company’s ethos.

“The design focuses on providing areas for collaboration between staff, as well as between staff and clients, while also providing productive workspaces for employees.”

As such, you’ll find slick, minimalist finishes in the boardroom and client meeting areas. The fractal pattern of the carpet is a neat unifying device and works well across walls as well as floors. These geometric shapes contrast with the clean whiteness of other spaces, and the Caesar Stone joinery and the all-encompassing warmth of the structured timber ceiling.