Office House / JEMS Architekci

Architects: JEMS Architekci
Area: 32,000 sqm
Year: 2022–2025
Photography: Maria Kot
Lead Architects: Maciej Rydz
Architects Team: Agata Drochlińska, Olek Gadomski, Agnieszka Gajewska, Paweł Gozdyra, Paweł Majkusiak, Piotr Prokopowicz, Nadia Sajjad, Anna Świderska
Design Team: JEMS Architekci
Facades: Hulewicz Consulting
Structural, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical Systems: TEQUM
Vegetation Design: Pracownia Architektury Krajobrazu Marta Tomasiak
Client: AFI Europe, Echo Investment
City: Warsaw
Country: Poland

In Warsaw’s fast-evolving Wola district, JEMS Architekci has completed Office House, the first phase of the ambitious Towarowa 22 development. The project reimagines the nature of the workplace, weaving landscape and architecture into a unified, sustainable composition. Envisioned as a “home for work,” the building merges comfort, flexibility, and environmental stewardship. Vegetation plays a structural role, tempering the urban microclimate while visually extending the adjacent park into the office environment. The H-shaped massing, layered terraces, and open courtyards allow light, air, and greenery to permeate the interiors. Drawing from the modernist heritage of the nearby Dom Słowa Polskiego printing house, JEMS reinterpreted its distinctive forms—circular skylights, mushroom columns, and latticed pergolas—into a contemporary language of ecological design that positions Office House as a model for the next generation of sustainable urban workplaces.

Office House represents a decisive shift in Warsaw’s architectural landscape, challenging preconceptions of the office as a rigid, impersonal environment. Designed by JEMS Architekci, the building embodies a philosophy that places user wellbeing and ecological sensitivity at its core. Situated in the Wola district, one of the capital’s most dynamic urban areas, the project forms the inaugural phase of the larger Towarowa 22 development, a 6.5-hectare urban complex integrating offices, housing, retail, and public spaces.

The architects began by reinterpreting the term “office” itself, rejecting the connotations of sterility and repetition in favor of warmth, flexibility, and comfort. They conceived the building as a “home for work,” where the architectural expression nurtures both creativity and calm. This conceptual foundation informed every aspect of the design, from spatial planning to material selection, ensuring that the workplace resonates emotionally as well as functionally.

At the heart of the project lies an intricate dialogue between architecture and nature. The building’s H-shaped plan establishes two internal courtyards, which act as green lungs connecting the office interiors with the surrounding park. Vegetation cascades across façades, balconies, and terraces, softening the structure and blurring distinctions between built form and landscape. This deliberate interweaving of greenery contributes to thermal regulation, natural ventilation, and a more temperate microclimate throughout the year.

A multi-level park pavilion, sheltered by a pergola of fine lattice-work, extends from the main structure. This space, partially glazed and overgrown with plants, offers informal gathering areas for employees and visitors. Cafés and social zones here reinforce the building’s communal spirit, making nature an everyday component of urban life. Rather than a backdrop, the park becomes a participant in the architecture, shaping the experience of those who work within it.

JEMS Architekci’s ecological approach transcends aesthetic concerns to address the city’s environmental challenges. Planters placed along terraces and rooftops mitigate overheating, while their moist substrates create cooler air currents that envelop the building. Operable windows allow for natural cross-ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. The projecting balconies and pergolas also shield entrances from drafts and diffuse strong winds, improving comfort at the pedestrian level.

Inside, the architects extended their pursuit of comfort through the use of tactile materials and warm tones. Wood, terrazzo, and lightly polished concrete are combined to create spaces that feel both refined and intimate. The H-shaped layout provides diverse perspectives—toward busy streets, shaded terraces, or serene park corners—offering variety within a coherent architectural rhythm. The lobby, defined by a double-height volume and a mezzanine framed in wood and glass, sets the tone for an interior that celebrates craftsmanship and natural light.

The project’s architectural vocabulary draws heavily from the legacy of the Dom Słowa Polskiego printing house, once a symbol of Polish modernism. JEMS Architekci transformed its signature circular skylights into a recurring motif, appearing in pergolas, ceiling patterns, and lighting fixtures. The original building’s “mushroom” columns inspired a new series of sculptural supports, their negative impressions expressed as circular voids punctuating key points of entry. These reinterpretations ground the new structure within its historical and cultural context while projecting it firmly toward the future.

Recognized in 2024 with the Green Building Award for Sustainable Building Project, Office House exemplifies how architecture can mediate between human experience and environmental responsibility. JEMS Architekci has crafted not just an efficient workplace but a living organism that breathes with its surroundings. By harmonizing design, ecology, and memory, the project stands as a testament to a broader transformation in the way cities conceive and inhabit the architecture of work.