Interview about HG Holding Headquarters Office and Conference Halls, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2025
Challenging the often sterile perception of institutional architecture, the HG Administration Building in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, presents a compelling case for warmth and human connection within a functional framework. Spanning 1,790 square meters across four levels, the design consciously moves beyond conventional office aesthetics, aiming to create a welcoming and productive environment for staff and visitors. This emphasis on a comfortable and engaging atmosphere permeates the architectural decisions, shaping everything from spatial organization to the nuanced selection of materials.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsWhen it comes to the creation of HG Holding Headquarters, we were helped by the desire to reinvent the way an institutional workspace should feel like a sterile utilitarian spot, transforming it into a more human and caring place. To accomplish this task, we started by examining the spatial experiences on mood, productivity and communication at the workplace. Instead of using common cold materials or box-like typologies of offices, we selected an expressive material palette composed of naturally textural oak, plush fabrics, warm light, and color scheme of the building, in neutral and earthy tones.Functional zoning was also important. We created a layered but permeable organization of space that guides the users intuitively between various zones, which start with the lively community-oriented potion of pharmacy on the ground floor and move into the more intensive and confidential administrative offices higher up. This tendency to treat every area in accordance with a particular atmosphere was implemented using the conference halls adorned with the dynamic patterned carpeting to enable collaboration and with a more soothing finish of the administrative zones that helps to concentrate.
The hierarchy in space of the HG Holding Headquarters was influenced by profound knowledge about the operational requirements of the building and our intentions to develop user experience by achieving intuitive circulation. Vertical plan of the building honour of the building was treated like a layered narrative in the sense that each level plays a specific role towards something that was a whole. A reasonable rationality based on functional logic and the human behavior patterns in such an institutional and office environment was the foundation of such a decision-making process.We started with the most public and dynamic areas as the pharmacy and the main entrance, which are available at the ground floor with easy access to the community and visitors. On top of that, administrative offices would be located on the first floor to establish a more concentrated, peaceful work environment. The offices were intended to promote collaboration along with a professional detachment, with the help of soft finishes and an open-plan design. We put the logistical and support functions below ground level. The level B1 was devoted to storage and work operations in order to maintain back-of-house operations discreet and efficient. The level where the conference halls are located, i.e., the B2 one, was specifically located in the less noise-active area, so that the halls would pose the least possible disturbance to the stability and provide a feeling of separation, contributing to the intensive concentration on the meetings and the presentation.
The palette was chosen very carefully to create the slightly warm, slightly professional picture. We have shunned away the cold clamminess of clinical finishes and adopted the warm wood finishes, such as natural oak, soft brown varnish, beige wall claddings and subdued earthy tones. The choice of these materials was not solely based on their aestheticism but also aimed at the experience they could allow visitors to feel, such as a sense of stillness, familiarity, and emotional ease, which we believe are not prominent enough in institutional architecture.We have simultaneously made sure that the space preserved some air of formality and consistency by balancing such cosy elements with such high-contrast materials as Statuario white marble and dark grey flooring. This counterplay gave the spaces a grounding and a sense of beauty so that the spaces appeared to be composed but not too relaxed. This leads to the creation of an atmosphere that is conducive to concentration and professionalism, but at the same time, appealing emotionally and taking into consideration the work of the human element.
All these clean lines paired with soft curves were done consciously to emphasize the duality of the place: strictly built and effective on the one hand, but cosy and open on the other hand. Neat, geometrical shapes create the feeling of structure and readability, which is vital to the wayfinding and setting a professional tone in a complex program. These aspects endorse the functional requirements of the building and showcase a feeling of confidence and stability in the identity of the organization.To make this starkness less pronounced and bring a more welcoming quality to it, we incorporated the slight roundness and curvature into such items as circulation areas, the reception space and some architectural parts. The curved motions interrupt the monotony, promote a more natural movement and develop a more human and flowing rhythm of space. Combinations of this interaction contribute to making the users feel rooted, but at the same time welcome enough to enjoy the psychological comfort of the space without giving up its professional intent.
We relied strongly on color psychology and biophilic design concepts in order to antidote the sterility commonly related to institutional buildings. The colors used were warm and earthy, such as olive green, brownish-orange and natural beige, as the most likely to attract an association of calmness, security, and friendliness. These colors are associated with lessening stress and creation of the sense of familiarity, which we decided are important emotional reactions we would like the users to have when they enter the building.Despite the fact that big integration of natural elements was not applicable in the site, we implemented the principles of biophilia by using natural oak, white marble as a daylight reflecting material as well as by using natural stones and wooden panels to add brightness. These small nods towards nature are used to enable customers to associate themselves with organic materials and colors, contributing to their well-being in an unconscious yet strong manner. The outcome is a working environment that is lively and emotionally aware not only functional.
The design of the carpet was also one of the instruments with the help of which the imprints of space structure and even mood were formed. In administrative offices, we deployed modified soft grey carpets to create various working areas on an open floor plan. This assisted in establishing some quiet order and the feeling of visual connection without the physical barriers, and contributed to a collaborative yet concentrated atmosphere.Patterned more vivid carpeting can be found, instead, in the conference halls to spice the area up and associate it with conversation and small group communication. This visual change is not only an improvement in the space identity, but also in the behavior, creating more vibrant and interactive approach to meetings. Such manipulations serve as intuitive orientation providing users with the orientation within the building and at the same time adding a gentle emphasis to the rationale of each of the zones.
The concrete structural system is a form of strong and robust frame, on which the building is anchored to offer the required support both to the decorative and practical requirements. Substantiality is set against light and transparent walls made of glass, the composition produces the sense of dynamism that illustrates one of the identities of the building- stable and open.In order to provide a seamless integration, we collaborated with structural and façade engineers, whom we engaged to elaborate on the connections of the elements of concrete, glass, and aluminum panels. The aluminum composite is used as a modern and clean accessory to encapsulate and hold the glazing in places and allow natural light to flow into the interiors. This is a combination that meets technical needs, in addition to strengthening the architectural discourse of transparency, warmth, and professionalism.
In our design, the following are some of the important factors to achieve good health and reduce stress. Warm experimental materials such as soft textures and oak help the person to feel good in the environment and are familiar again like what can be found in institutions which are cold. A considerate choice of coloring, including earth colors and relaxing elements, contributes to emotional balance and makes people less anxious.Space-wise, our offices have an open plan with good lines of vision to promote teamwork but at the same time a few quiet areas where workers can concentrate and strike a good balance between socialization and solitude. This creates a better mood and energy absorption level through the infusion of natural light via large glass walls. All of that, in combination, fosters not only productivity but psychological comfort as it is understood that an employee-friendly workspace is a key component of employee health.
There was a particular reason why the blue background of the reception was adopted to provide a soothing and pleasant transitional effect on the visitors and the staff. In color psychology, blue is popularly known to produce a sense of trust, calmness, and stability, the three traits that are significant in a professional environment where first impressions count a lot.The calmness of this color also gives a contrast on the warm hues that have been applied in or around the building, it gives a moment of rest that can help orient the visitors upon entering. Together with a minimalistic, streamlined style reception desk, we have created a similar effect of ambience that is both friendly and elegant, which is the key to defining the entire experience of using this headquarters.
We hope that the HG Holding Headquarters will become an effective guiding example of how corporate architecture could go beyond functionality to welcome the principles of human-centred design. This project was able to change traditional sterile office thinking and establish a new paradigm in which offices promote productivity and comfort in an emotional, healthy, and sensory manner.In the future, we hope to see this design as a source of inspiration to architects and clients in Turkey and the rest of the world to reconsider spaces in institutions as a venue that can promote positive mental health and sense of community. The high performance of the building might promote a wider usage of natural materials, considerate spatial levels, and biophilic design in general, which will eventually help build a more empathetic and greener future of corporate buildings.
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