Electra

Paris // Richelieu // 1200m^²

sectorTech

Electra: a new impetus for energy transition.

A flagship player in green mobility, Electra is France's first pure player in fast charging for electric vehicles.

Just 3 years old but already employing more than 120 staff, Electra's insatiable ambition is to become a European leader.

Electra is a visionary company whose mission is to make the experience of electric vehicles more accessible by removing the perceived barriers to their adoption. The brand's ambitions outstrip the rivalries that currently divide the industry.

Electra intends to turn the status quo on its head, introducing a new paradigm by promising enhanced performance.

Recharging as quickly and easily as filling a tank of petrol. This challenger spirit inspired us. Convinced of the need for such a company, Factory was doubly excited to support them in their redevelopment project. It was an opportunity to support a French tech company and to help build a more sustainable world for everyone.

Energy that the old premises can no longer contain.

An upturn like this is an excellent economic indicator for a company, but it also makes managing workspaces more complex and harder to anticipate.

That's why Electra approached Factory with a an issue which wasn't one of the easiest we've had to tackle. But far from putting us off, the more arduous the project, the more ambitious the task, the more we embrace it!

This was a multi-faceted project based, above all, on brand image, with two structural levers: firstly, establishing credibility for a brand that had outgrown start-up status, allowing Electra to enter new a dimension of business considerations; secondly, embodying an identity, which has more in common with Electra's current reality than it its early days.

The challenge is to establish credibility for a brand that had outgrown start-up status, allowing Electra to enter new a dimension of business considerations.

Volume and space issues within a very tight timeframe and budget context were also driving factors.

The scope of the project therefore included the design, layout and decoration of new workspaces. In particular, the idea behind the redevelopment was to open up exchanges between the various divisions, while at the same time allowing the partitioning of spaces conducive to concentration and calm.

The aim was to offer modularity but to avoid silos, to encourage team cohesion and ideas without recourse to large, impersonal open spaces. In short, Electra was as determined to push back the walls for its employees as it is to break down those of the electric vehicle sector.

Re-imagining Electra's workspaces: the story of successful change.

The first part of this beautiful project directly concerned fitting out the Parisian setting chosen by our clients themselves: a 1,200m2 space and two huge terraces offering an unobstructed view of the whole of Paris.

This time, there was no property hunting for our teams, but a blank canvas at our disposal, ready to be transformed. And to get the job done in the short time available, our teams didn't hesitate to "move in" so that they could dedicate themselves entirely to the project and speed up the process. This agility is a common feature of our working methods, so that we can respond as effectively as possible to our customer's needs.

More than just a project, this has been a human venture for Factory and Electra, who have worked hand in hand, from the design of the spaces, through the choice of materials, right up to the finishing touches. Regular milestones, punctuated by back-and-forth approvals, ensured that the project progressed in record time.

"Our teams didn't hesitate to "move in" so that they could dedicate themselves entirely to the project and speed up the process."

The premises that won over Electra are nestled on rue de Richelieu, in the heart of Paris's 2nd arrondissement. Just a stone's throw from the Richelieu-Drouot metro station, the Palais Garnier and the iconic Boulevard Haussmann, Electra's head office looks down on the hustle and bustle of Paris from the 6th and 7th floors of this charming building. Environmental responsibility was central to reclaiming the site. We wanted the atmosphere of the premises and the history of its design to be imbued with Electra's tenet: the energy of change. Giving a second life not only to Electra, but to the existing materials that have made the building what it is today. It's an apt analogy, and one that has informed our sensitive approach to the entire project. The carpets were reused, old materials were recycled through dedicated channels, and furniture that wasn't reused was donated to employees.

"We wanted the atmosphere of the premises and the history of its design to be imbued with Electra's tenet: the energy of change."

A second approach guided our thinking and our choices: to create offices which represent the staff, bringing warmth to the place. The open-plan aspect of the worktops allowed us to bring in light and create a feeling of gentle openness. Different decorating techniques and a selection of organic or raw materials then enabled us to reinforce the 'Home Sweet Home' atmosphere of the workspaces. Parquet flooring was installed for warmth, while plants, sideboard-style furniture, carpets and subdued lighting created intimacy. The idea was to reinvent the dreary aspect of the office, with its endless grey carpets and drab false ceilings, and turn the office into a "living" space.

The 7th floor, dedicated to welcoming visitors and fostering collective intelligence, boasts a boardroom with huge bay windows and offers a bird's-eye view of the breathtaking beauty of Paris. On the 6th floor, we have dedicated hybrid spaces combining open planning and relaxation areas to best adapt to the spontaneous uses of employees.

"Factory reinvented the dreary aspect of the office, with its endless grey carpets and drab false ceilings, and turned the office into a "living" space."

Just six weeks of design and two and a half months of work enabled us to respond perfectly to Electra's requirements, without compromising the quality of deliverables that characterises Factory's production standards. In this age of remote working, we're proud to have inspired Electra's employees to return to the physical office. The offices delighted our employees, and aroused a touch of jealousy in those who are still working remotely.

Summary sheet

sectorTech

area1200m^²

placeParis // Richelieu

delivery2023

Engaged Expertises

Architectural Concept.
Concept & Storytelling.
Furniture and Decoration.

Smart urban offices
In densely populated city centers, offices could implement smart solutions to optimize space utilization and enhance energy efficiency. This may include public transportation management systems, shared bike infrastructure, coworking spaces, and concierge services for employees.
Sustainability and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
The company's initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, promote recycling, use sustainable materials, and adopt environmentally-friendly practices.
Technology and innovation
The integration of advanced technologies into the work environment, such as online collaboration tools, smart home technology, virtual or augmented reality, to facilitate communication, productivity, and user experience.
TFAW
The Future at Work

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