From: Rasmus Kabun
Company: Lävi
Role: Interior Design & Project Management
"This building has had room for many ideas and materials that could not have been used before.”
Work & Approach
Well, the whole site you probably just scrolled through, is about our work and approach. Keeping different parties moving as a whole was one of our key responsibilities.
The starting point for Wise’s new office in the Volta Quarter was a fundamental question: how do you design a workplace for a company whose service is used in more than 160 countries, and that accommodates up to 2,000 employees – sometimes even more?
Our approach went far beyond fitting desks into a building. The goal was to create an environment that reflects Wise’s global mindset, supports rapid growth, and accommodates a wide range of working styles. We treated the office as an interior “city”, where moving through the building feels like walking along different streets across the world.
In addition to flexible work areas, the office includes a wide range of purpose-built spaces such as a gym, wellness area, band room and games area. As a result, this large-scale project became a collection of many smaller, highly distinctive design challenges, each with its own character and narrative.
Breakthroughs
The scale of the project was one of its biggest challenges. Designing and delivering a workplace of this size required a highly complex spatial programme, precise scheduling and strict budget control. Keeping the project on track demanded constant coordination and meticulous planning.
A key breakthrough came through close collaboration with the client and project partners. By consistently applying value engineering principles, we were able to balance ambition with feasibility, ensuring high quality while staying within both time and budget constraints. As a result, the office was completed ahead of the original schedule and within the agreed budget.
Another major challenge was maintaining coherence across such a diverse and expressive interior. This was resolved through a strong overarching concept that ties the many different spaces into one unified experience.
Takeaways
This project allowed the team to explore bold, previously untapped ideas. By giving designers the freedom to experiment, the office became a playground for creative solutions that balance innovation with functionality.
Key lessons include:
Close collaboration with the client ensures alignment with culture and brand identity.
Physical and digital experiences unified reflect the company’s personality even better.
Integrating complex technical and architectural constraints can successfully create unique spatial experiences.
Flexible circulation, light, and materiality enhance both functionality and inspiration.
Wise’s new office demonstrates how daring design, thoughtful planning, and a playful approach can produce a space that is vibrant, functional, and globally inspired.
"This building has had room for many ideas and materials that could not have been used before.”
Work & Approach
Well, the whole site you probably just scrolled through, is about our work and approach. Keeping different parties moving as a whole was one of our key responsibilities.
The starting point for Wise’s new office in the Volta Quarter was a fundamental question: how do you design a workplace for a company whose service is used in more than 160 countries, and that accommodates up to 2,000 employees – sometimes even more?
Our approach went far beyond fitting desks into a building. The goal was to create an environment that reflects Wise’s global mindset, supports rapid growth, and accommodates a wide range of working styles. We treated the office as an interior “city”, where moving through the building feels like walking along different streets across the world.
In addition to flexible work areas, the office includes a wide range of purpose-built spaces such as a gym, wellness area, band room and games area. As a result, this large-scale project became a collection of many smaller, highly distinctive design challenges, each with its own character and narrative.
Breakthroughs
The scale of the project was one of its biggest challenges. Designing and delivering a workplace of this size required a highly complex spatial programme, precise scheduling and strict budget control. Keeping the project on track demanded constant coordination and meticulous planning.
A key breakthrough came through close collaboration with the client and project partners. By consistently applying value engineering principles, we were able to balance ambition with feasibility, ensuring high quality while staying within both time and budget constraints. As a result, the office was completed ahead of the original schedule and within the agreed budget.
Another major challenge was maintaining coherence across such a diverse and expressive interior. This was resolved through a strong overarching concept that ties the many different spaces into one unified experience.
Takeaways
This project allowed the team to explore bold, previously untapped ideas. By giving designers the freedom to experiment, the office became a playground for creative solutions that balance innovation with functionality.
Key lessons include:
Close collaboration with the client ensures alignment with culture and brand identity.
Physical and digital experiences unified reflect the company’s personality even better.
Integrating complex technical and architectural constraints can successfully create unique spatial experiences.
Flexible circulation, light, and materiality enhance both functionality and inspiration.
Wise’s new office demonstrates how daring design, thoughtful planning, and a playful approach can produce a space that is vibrant, functional, and globally inspired.
Photos: Tõnu Tunnel
Article: Nele Volbrück, Lisette Vapper
Web: Keijo Kraus