Golden A' Design Award Winner 2020
A cool aquamarine palette establishes the chromatic foundation of Michael Setter's Noble Energy Israel Offices, where a contemporary workplace lounge reveals itself through a sophisticated interplay of industrial transparency and domestic warmth that positions the viewer within a liminal zone between corporate functionality and residential comfort. The compositional architecture employs a dynamic asymmetrical balance organized around a prominent media wall unit that serves as the primary focal point, its rectilinear wooden shelving system housing a central display screen flanked by carefully curated objects including potted plants, decorative vessels, and circular sculptural elements that echo the rhythmic patterns of the exposed ceiling infrastructure above. The spatial construction demonstrates masterful handling of layered planes, with the foreground established by slatted metal and wood screens functioning as repoussoir elements that frame and partially obscure the seating arrangement beyond, creating visual depth through overlapping architectural membranes that filter sight lines without completely obstructing them. Two coral-toned shell chairs positioned at left provide the warmest chromatic accent against the dominant cool palette, their organic curvature contrasting with the geometric rigor of the surrounding structural elements including the diagonal lattice screens and horizontal ceiling louvers. The lighting paradigm combines natural illumination filtering through sheer curtains at the window wall with linear LED strips integrated into the ceiling framework, producing an even, diffused luminosity that minimizes harsh shadows while emphasizing the spatial layering. Pendant fixtures in matte black descend at varying heights, their industrial character tempered by the soft ambient glow they produce. The textural vocabulary encompasses polished concrete flooring, brushed metal framing, warm oak wood tones, plush upholstery, and the translucent softness of draped fabric, creating a rich tactile environment that balances hard industrial surfaces with yielding comfort zones. The exposed ductwork and mechanical systems visible in the upper register celebrate rather than conceal the building's infrastructural systems, an approach resonant with contemporary workplace design philosophies that embrace authenticity and transparency. A weathered area rug beneath the organic-shaped coffee tables introduces textural variation and defines the conversation zone as a distinct spatial territory within the larger open plan. The overall atmospheric resonance suggests a workplace that values creativity, collaboration, and employee wellbeing, inviting inhabitants to linger, converse, and find moments of respite within the professional environment.
Noble Energy Israel is an office interior spread over eight floors and 13,000 square meters in Herzliya, Israel. The design is inspired by a gas platform. Corridor ceilings are painted deep blue to suggest the sea, with galvanized pipes and suspended mesh ceilings below. Work rooms are placed along the perimeter windows in two sizes, a short module and a long module. Each floor is marked by one color applied to the floor, walls and ceiling of its kitchenette and lounge, which aids orientation. Recycled platform parts were reused as planters, wall cladding and counter tops.