A minimalist color palette was conceived as a blank slate for the user to create their own branding, but it was combined with raw textures for definition.
2Rottet Studio
A minimalist color palette was conceived as a blank slate for the user to create their own branding, but it was combined with raw textures for definition.
3Rottet Studio
Inspired by the communal office designs of the 1950s and ’60s to create a “deformalized” environment.
4Rottet Studio
Inspired by the communal office designs of the 1950s and ’60s to create a “deformalized” environment.
5Rottet Studio
“Our goal is to encourage spontaneous interactions through less-defined spaces,” said Chris Evans, senior associate at Rottet Studio.
6Rottet Studio
“Our goal is to encourage spontaneous interactions through less-defined spaces,” said Chris Evans, senior associate at Rottet Studio.
7Rottet Studio
The firm made use of the “notch” running up the length of the building by orienting users towards the skyline view.
8Rottet Studio
The firm made use of the “notch” running up the length of the building by orienting users towards the skyline view.
9Gensler
Instead of walls, the Gensler suite utilizes draperies to heighten the flexibility of the space, focusing on the idea of dissolving barriers.
10Gensler
Instead of walls, the Gensler suite utilizes draperies to heighten the flexibility of the space, focusing on the idea of dissolving barriers.
11Gensler
A lime green tiled wall at the entry is designed to energize the environment.
12Gensler
A lime green tiled wall at the entry is designed to energize the environment.
13Gensler
The firm took inspiration from varied work environments and concepts, including a library, a theater and a home-away-from-home.
14Gensler
The firm took inspiration from varied work environments and concepts, including a library, a theater and a home-away-from-home.
15Gensler
“The space allows the user to curate their own experience. Elements can be drawn, closed or moved to fit any situation at any given time,” said Yishio Kuo, Senior Associate at Gensler.
16Gensler
“The space allows the user to curate their own experience. Elements can be drawn, closed or moved to fit any situation at any given time,” said Yishio Kuo, Senior Associate at Gensler.
17Ziegler Cooper
The colorful Zeigler Cooper space was inspired by the Casa Giraldi in Mexico City.
18Ziegler Cooper
The colorful Zeigler Cooper space was inspired by the Casa Giraldi in Mexico City.
19Ziegler Cooper
The entry has been termed a “receptionista,” a merging of both a reception space and a coffee bar meant to encourage collaboration and host informal meetings.
20Ziegler Cooper
The entry has been termed a “receptionista,” a merging of both a reception space and a coffee bar meant to encourage collaboration and host informal meetings.
21Ziegler Cooper
The light red color palette and dichroic glass was conceived as a visual reference to the look of refined oil, because Houston.
22Ziegler Cooper
The light red color palette and dichroic glass was conceived as a visual reference to the look of refined oil, because Houston.
23Zeigler Cooper
Playful elements—including a neon banana sign—were selected to achieve the concept of ‘assemblage,” a gathering of unrelated objects that mimic the many roles and functions of a modern office space.
24Zeigler Cooper
Playful elements—including a neon banana sign—were selected to achieve the concept of ‘assemblage,” a gathering of unrelated objects that mimic the many roles and functions of a modern office space.
25Inventure
The Inventure space’s signature is the serpentine work bar, which utilizes the exterior light while creating versatile work stations.
26Inventure
The Inventure space’s signature is the serpentine work bar, which utilizes the exterior light while creating versatile work stations.
27Inventure
The concept of yin and yang was central in balancing contrasting needs such as transparency vs. privacy, with both collaborative and closed private zones.
28Inventure
The concept of yin and yang was central in balancing contrasting needs such as transparency vs. privacy, with both collaborative and closed private zones.
29Inventure
“Inventure Design’s space facilitates a ‘co-working’ environment, which is an idea trending all over the city,” said James O’Neill, Founding Principal of Inventure Design, “the idea-exchange in a co-working space is a resource for Houston’s entrepreneurial spirit.”
30Inventure
“Inventure Design’s space facilitates a ‘co-working’ environment, which is an idea trending all over the city,” said James O’Neill, Founding Principal of Inventure Design, “the idea-exchange in a co-working space is a resource for Houston’s entrepreneurial spirit.”
31Inventure
Curves were employed to guide users around corners.
32Inventure
Curves were employed to guide users around corners.
When the skyscraper at 1600 Smith was completed in 1984, it was a marvel, raising the bar for Houston’s office space with its innovative architecture. Building on that heritage, building owners Brookfield Property Partners partnered with four of Houston’s most highly regarded architecture firms to present DesignHive by Brookfield Houston.
The firms had seven months to conceive and execute their visions of the workplace of the future, each creating a unique business suite on the building’s 37th floor. “DesignHive is creating spaces where people want to work. This project is unlike anything we’ve seen in the Houston market,” said Randy O’Donnell, principal of construction partner O’Donnell Snider Construction, in a press release.
As it turns out, the future is now: these office suites are all available to lease.
Sarah may be a native of Dallas/Fort Worth, but today she’s loyal to Houston. (She still loves the Cowboys.) She joined the Houstonia team in October 2014, heading up fashion, style and design coverage and covering other beats including the local drag queen scene and all things Matthew McConaughey.
A Rice alum, she previously worked for CultureMap and the Houston Chronicle.
