Nominee for the annual award of the Estonian Association of Interior Architects 2024
Architecture
Arhitektibüroo Siim & Põllumaa
Interior architecture
Kätlin Ölluk, Kristin Boginski, Kaia Jõks (Aeris)
Commissioned by
Ellex Raidla Advokaadibüroo
Construction
Nordecon
Photos
Tõnu Tunnel
Location
Ahtri 4, Tallinn

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The work environment of Ellex Raidla's new office is inspired by our branding, with key themes of space of success, future and sustainability. The entire Ellex team was involved in the project. For us, the greatest value is to have the entire team on the same floor and creating a social space where colleagues could interact directly. We aimed to find solutions that truly represent us, such as the acoustic felt ceilings in the kitchens, decorative hempcrete stones in the open areas and futuristic lighting solutions. The collaboration with the interior architect went exceptionally well – we were definitely on the same wavelength. We achieved the much-anticipated wow effect and we continue to enjoy it to this day.
Kaidi Kirs, Office Manager at Ellex Raidla

One of the leading law offices in Tallinn, Ellex Raidla, took a major step as an organisation when it established a new office. To make the future office areas as good as possible, an interior architecture competition was held, resulting in the interiors of the new office being designed by AERIS under the guidance of inferior architect Kätlin Ölluk.

Ellex Raidla’s new topic cluster “Universe of Success” steered the work of the interior architects. Ölluk was inspired to divide the office layout into four “orbits”, one of which is a public area for visitors and three of which are private dens for the staff, including rooms for work. The customer wanted to put all of the customary work groups in a blender and intensify communication between co-workers. The floor plan with its numerous private offices also proved challenging, as all of these had to fit into the window-lined perimeter of the building. Characteristically for a law office, some rooms had to have controlled privacy, and thus the interior architects had to find clever places to position rooms and lay utility lines and create appropriate acoustics. Yet the result ended up being light and airy, calm and conducive to concentration.

The interior design is supported by common areas designed by the interior architects – kitchens and various recreational and meeting nooks. These are provided with sliding walls that allow the meeting rooms and the common kitchen to be expanded to fit the whole staff when necessary. Considering that there are more than 80 people working for Ellex Raidla, flexibility of the layout is important. The lighting in the common areas is tasteful; making the environment both cosy and supporting mental concentration.

The offices are given personality by attractively finished materials such as timber, glass and stone, which add elegance to the interior. Art and design works were carefully selected – the fibre stones created by young Estonian designer Hannah Segerkrantz of hemp concrete catch the eye in particular. The cherry on top are the lovely views of the Old Town, port area and Linnahall – working in such an environment is bound to be inspiring.