Immersive architecture in an intelligent environment
The purpose of this competition requires an approach and reflection that goes beyond anything we've been taught over the years, because Ubisoft Montreal's universe is not usual; it doesn't belong to any existing model. It is imperative, in our opinion, to preserve its original DNA, as this is what makes this great company one of the most creative on the planet.
Therefore, we need to create an immersive space in this design project that meets the company's constantly evolving needs. We therefore try to translate the intrinsic structure of the video game into volumes, rhythms, atmospheres and perceptions, even emotions. These imagined spaces leave it up to the different communities that inhabit them to organize and "disorganize" themselves in a playful and efficient way!
The imposing architecture with its symmetrical facade of the Peck building constitutes the ideal setting for the development of unbridled spaces...
Communication, identity and (de)territoriality
If we dream of conceiving a chaos that is sufficiently buoyant for the individual to spread his or her creative wings in all directions, our design is part of a long-term approach: these large open and functional spaces have been restored to their original appearance, all traces of paint having been removed.
The recovery of some of the existing furniture and non-structural components, the use of recycled materials, VOC-free paint and a user-controlled lighting system are among other ecological gestures considered, depending on the budget and technical constraints of the building. Simplicity, ingenious flexibility and humanity are the key words of our design and our sustainable approach.
The new topology of the premises is conceived as a second nature that the user can appropriate naturally and with pride. Reading the book by Laurent Simon and other authors and researchers, including Pierre-Olivier Tremblay and Juliet Zhu, provides interesting insights into Ubisoft's unusual organizational culture and notions of creativity. We have drawn inspiration from them to fuel our reflection and to identify avenues of work. The structure that seems to be most important here is based on communication, information sharing and the smooth transmission of knowledge between experienced colleagues and newcomers, between project managers and team members, between members of the same team and between teams.
There are no walls, corridors or even aisles in these variable-geometry spaces, because everything can be built and deconstructed. We believe that this enhances the field of perception, leading to new potential and new learning. The organization of work is done in an intuitive way, thanks to the workstations, whose modular configuration - the design of the playful furniture is a digital wink to the omnipresent technology - offers a lot of flexibility. Playing on the duality of the individual versus the collective, post-modernism what, everyone has his own workstation and can thus tinker with the layout of his territory in complete freedom according to his moods or the needs of his team.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
This proposition pushes to the highest point the notion of flexibility of spaces and is in line with the will to put the individual at the heart of the project. The workspaces can be modulated in a multitude of configurations to adapt to the changing sizes of the work teams.
The jury liked the closed habitats, scattered throughout the floors and opening up the windows. They allow for a variety of atmospheres and their exterior walls offer a lot of potential in terms of personalization and appropriation of the spaces by the employees.
On the other hand, the concept proposed in this competition had to be based on the enhancement of the existing building. However, the jury deplored the fact that the building and/or the environment in which it is located were not taken into account. The idea of multifunctional trees for the electrification and lighting of the workstations is difficult to integrate into the environment and brings complexity and visual heaviness given the many columns of the building. The jury members also questioned the sustainability of such a concept.
Although the jury emphasized the team's real approach to understanding Ubisoft's creative process in detail, the performance appeared to be less than perfect in the eyes of the jury. The audition allowed the jury members to confirm that the team's vision of the spaces does not go beyond their master idea of flexibility.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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