CBRE Meeting Room of the Year 2018 announced its winners

Winners of the fifth-jubilee year of the CBRE Meeting Room 2018 were announced at the ceremony held at the Corso Court Karlín in Prague. Winners of all nine categories are Dentons, KOMA Modular, Škoda Auto Digilab, Black n' Arch, Arval, Trask solutions, Nano Energies, Kurz architects for the design of SinnerSchrader and Livesport. There is one regional company — KOMA Modular from Vizovice, author of the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2015, the other winners are from Prague.

Thick oak wood boards in the meeting rooms or tables in a tree-stump design were used in the law firm Dentons’ office. In KOMA Modular’s office (EXPO 2015 pavilion), iron, wood, glass and typical industrial items can be found rather than plasterboards; the inner space is open up to the roof, and the atrium features a spiral canvas with colourful motifs that spans from the first floor to the roof. Škoda Auto Digilab used functional automotive parts: a rear-view camera as a Skype camera for informal video conferences, or adjustable car seats as relaxation seating in phone booths. Black n' Arch’s office space feels as a theatre, with the spot-lit furniture making the impression of a stage set. The architects were David Černý and Tomáš Císař.

One of the winners is Arval residing in the Main point Pankrác, the world’s first building of its kind capable of absorbing smog and decreasing emissions. The offices themselves are inspired by automobiles. Trask Solutions’ new offices emphasise creativity and innovation, which are both expected from an IT company. The space features a swing, a living room and other nooks supporting brainstorming and creating a friendly environment and a family atmosphere. Nano Energies breaks stereotypes with flowerbeds in centres of its rooms or with walls covered in moss. The whole space is dominated by a tree whose crown makes a shelter for around-the-clock electricity trading in six different countries. Kurz architects came up with the design of SinnerSchrader’s offices in a former research institute with a very strong industrial atmosphere. The centrepiece of this space is a diagonal axis that works as the main corridor and ends on an open terrace. On the sides are meeting rooms, transparent meeting boxes or relaxing hammocks. In Livesport, people can ride scooters in corridors, play golf or table tennis and work in offices inspired by many different sports.

The decision of the main jury, comprising Eva Jiřičná, Alexandra Tomášková (Skanska), Richard Curran (CBRE), Jiří Kejval (Techo), Jan Musil (LIKO-S), Tomáš Jindříšek (Dark Side) and Pavel Maurer (Grand Restaurant), was based on criteria in design, originality, innovation, practicality and attractiveness of the working environment for employees.

One of the winners is KOMA Modular from Vizovice, but companies from Brno appeared among finalists as well: The Distillery - Social Reactor, The Funtasty, Avast Software, Lundegaard, STRV and AREAL SLATINA. There were companies from other regions, too, such as CHALET servis from Bludov, LD Seating from Boskovice, Verizon from Ostrava and Madeo ventures from Zlín. A total of 12 architects were involved in the Architectural Design category.

* source press release CBRE