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These businesses entrusted Factory

ZENCHEF Paris 2023 ©Yann Deret-5710.webp

Zenchef, the appetite to reinvent the restaurant industry.

A hybrid solution designed to simplify the daily lives of both restaurateurs and customers, with a simple creed: combining human touch with the best of technology. Having already won over big names in gastronomy, Zenchef enables the management of reservation flows, table-side payments, and customer loyalty. A digital revolution for an industry more traditionally associated with tradition than innovation, and whose practices tend to be more aged.

A key player in the 3.0 restaurant industry, Zenchef is a software tool designed for restaurateurs and industry professionals.

In 13 years, Zenchef has managed to win everyone over. The company now boasts over 8,000 clients across 15 countries, bringing together a community of enthusiasts and over 200 employees. Its recent merger with the Dutch player Formitable has propelled it to the status of European leader in "restaurant tech." This ascent opens up endless possibilities and new opportunities for Zenchef, which already has a presence in Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Copenhagen, and Berlin. A rapid and impressive expansion for the visionary brand that challenges the norms of the industry.

Expanding the spaces without pushing the walls.

On one hand, to gain more space in the offices to accommodate employees more comfortably. The idea is to intelligently conquer the second floor to increase usable space. On the other hand, to enhance a historic building while preserving its authenticity and considering its fragility.

Already established on the ground floor, Zenchef turned to Factory for a multifaceted challenge.

The overall goal of this mission was to implement a 'charm offensive' to encourage employees to reinvest in the offices. No major construction work was on the agenda: the modularity of spaces, furniture, and decor had to be enough to meet this challenge. We simply had to adapt to the possibilities offered by the offices and unleash the spaciousness of the places. But at Factory, we are accustomed to operating with the motto 'impossible is nothing.' A formidable puzzle: expanding the spaces without pushing the walls.

"A true balancing act for our teams faced with a triple challenge: preserving the structure, optimizing the spaces, and the need to recreate attractiveness among the employees."

No real estate hunting in this incredible challenge, but a budget to respect and a Haussmannian setting in the 17th arrondissement to enhance. But despite the constraints, at Factory, the quality of the recommendation is not measured by its budget or its complexity.

This project was a real balancing act for our teams, with the constant concern of respecting a triple challenge: preserving the structure, optimizing the spaces, and the need to recreate attractiveness among the employees.

This significant growth also has an obvious impact on the need to foster a brand culture internally, centered around Zenchef's original universe: food. This identity variable undoubtedly had to be taken into account in our response to strengthen the sense of belonging within the teams.

Zenchef rediscovers the taste of in-person presence.

This multifaceted challenge ultimately emerged as a reflection of the societal and human contradictions at play in workspaces. Just as offices need to be agile and flexible, we believe that adopting a chameleon-like posture is essential for understanding client needs and ensuring the effectiveness of the response.

Both simple and complex, the essence of this exciting project rested on a constant duality: between the search for space and limited volume, tradition and modernity, collaborative life and individual spaces, remote work and office life.

Hence, our Factory teams took the care to organize interviews with the heads of each department prior to the project. The goal: immerse ourselves in the daily life of Zenchef, understand every aspect and nuance. Business reality, daily practices, team operating methods... We scrutinized every aspect of the company's life to gain relevance.

To embody Zenchef's strong DNA and promote a unifying vision, we conceived a design concept centered around food. This artistic and strategic choice allowed for a common thread and coherence throughout the entire branding. A naming effort for the physical spaces associated with gastronomy, in particular, gave soul to the rooms and meeting spaces. Appellations such as 'Dining room,' 'Food court,' 'Wine Cellar,' and 'Kitchen Garden' not only helped better organize the spaces but also built a cross-cutting and more friendly imaginary within the offices.

"This multifaceted challenge ultimately emerged as a reflection of the societal and human contradictions at play in workspaces."

The use of natural materials and colors, jute, bamboo, and vegetation, had a dual effect: bringing warmth and authenticity to the spaces, and also concealing the entire air conditioning network on the ceilings. The lack of space had overcome in-person presence, leading many employees to disengage from the offices. The dual ambition was to bring smiles to the employees and create enthusiasm for collaboration, in the face of a strong trend towards remote work.

"The dual ambition: bring smiles to the employees and create enthusiasm for collaboration, in the face of a strong trend towards remote work."

Thus, acoustic comfort and the reduction of noise disturbances, along with office ergonomics, were the spearhead of the project. Just as Zenchef reinvented practices in restaurants, Factory reimagined the volumes of workspace. The idea was to enable each role to operate without harming the productivity of others.

Given its rapid growth and the consequent increase in the workforce, Zenchef faced an overload in insufficient volumes to accommodate a hundred employees simultaneously.

Zenchef's goal: provide comfort, accessibility, and quality of life to inspire employees to embody the company culture. The refurbishment of the open space, creation of a vast hybrid meeting/lounge area, high benches, and phone booths were key solutions that allowed us to create exchange zones. Sometimes agile and collaborative, sometimes isolating to facilitate concentration.

Some clever reinterpretations have allowed us to create a cozier ambiance. For instance, transforming carpets into rugs or adding subtle touches of color in the rooms has fostered a feeling of being 'at home.'

How to reinvent the traditional image of the office with worn-out carpeting?

The labyrinthine layout of the space, constraints of preserving a Haussmannian-era structure, and a budget that must not be exceeded did not deter our teams. Despite numerous imperatives to navigate the project, the redesign of this 500m2 second-floor space was a success. The proof is that employees have returned en masse for in-person work.

"Just as Zenchef reinvented practices in restaurants, Factory reimagined the volumes of workspace."

This collaboration primarily pushed us to go beyond our limits and think smartly and collectively. A contract that was more than fulfilled for the Factory teams! Client satisfaction was only the result of a natural and immediate understanding, allowing for a smooth and seamless process. It's also the promise for tomorrow of new collaborations that are just as exciting... To be continued.

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Tech

ELECTRA-12.webp

Electra: a new impetus for energy transition.

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

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

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.

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! 

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Owkin, the biotechnology of tomorrow reinventing itself today.

This ambitious project for the future of healthcare is led by two visionary figures: Thomas Clozel MD, former assistant professor in clinical onco-haematology, and Gilles Wainrib, a pioneer in the field of machine learning in biology. For Owkin, a better understanding of complex biology means better outcomes for research and for patients. This simple adage has helped the company to raise $300m in funding and investments from international biopharmaceutical giants and venture capital funds to become a biotech unicorn. 

Founded in 2016, the Franco-American biotechnology company Owkin combines the best of artificial and human intelligence in service to biopharmaceutical and academic researchers.

Owkin is reinventing traditional medical rationale and pushing at the boundaries of innovation using a shrewd blend of AI and data. 
The methodology opens the door to innovative ways of identifying new treatments, developing more accurate and effective diagnostic tools, hastening clinical trials and reducing risks. Advancing more sustainable and effective healthcare solutions is no longer a utopian dream, it's reality that transcends fiction, enabling Owkin to formulate treatments which are optimised for each of its customers.

Providing Owkin HQ with a corporate identity.

Factory rose to the challenge working collaboratively with Owkin every step of the way. Embracing the hallmarks of artificial intelligence, new technologies and the human touch that are so close to the company's identity, we took an architectural approach. Our aim was to offer a unique user experience in every space. We wanted to mirror the company's philosophy of hospitality and hybridity, infusing its essence into every room of the Parisien office. 

How do you make a location the metaphor for a company's success and meteoric growth?

The challenge was to provide an architectural and decorative setting that matches Owkin's ambitions for the medical biotechnology sector.
The entire Factory team pushed the boundaries of its imagination, to bring life to a unique place which reflects the image of Owkin. Every material, every piece of furniture, every creative decision carries the brand's DNA throughout the 2,300m2 of office space.

So how do you design high-performance spaces to accommodate the intellectual and creative potential of Owkin's team? We wanted to imbue the atmosphere of the space with the team's distinctive personality and to embody their values: energy, talent, responsibility and friendliness. Of course, productivity was a key expectation of these spaces, but a workspace isn't just for working.

The challenge was to provide an architectural and decorative setting that matches Owkin's ambitions for the medical biotechnology sector.

Opening up workspaces also means breaking down relational barriers within the team.
In this way, Factory and Owkin have increased the number of spaces conducive to the creation of networks and collective intelligence, by designing leisure, rest and co-creation areas to improve the quality of life at work.

Owkin: building its future in an historic building.

The combined strength of Factory's strategy and real estate research teams generated ideas conducive to team-building. The first step in this ambitious project was to find an exceptional location to accommodate the intellectual and relational energy of Owkin teams. In search of the best location, not the best margin, our Real Estate Strategy team set its sights on a 20,000m2 freestone building as a showcase for Owkin, ideally situated in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. 

Because we stop at nothing, we took up the challenge of redeveloping Owkin's spaces despite a tight deadline. Our mantra for this project? Just do it! 
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"Our mantra for this project? Just do it!

Our teams were seduced by the unique location, the building's robust nature, combined with the period cachet of Haussmann's boulevards. The architecture was perfectly suited to accommodating Owkin's ambition.   
"The building's robust nature, combined with the period cachet of Haussmann's boulevard was perfectly suited to accommodating Owkin's ambition."

The Social Club, the foundation of Owkin's collective intelligence.

The cornerstone of the project was to strengthen the Owkin's social dynamic. Because performance is based, above all, on the strength of human bonds, the entire design logic of the project was based on the emotional dimension. 

This ideological footing enabled us to agree on a founding concept: the "Social Club".

As a result, the Haussmann-style flats were opened up with an eye to the ergonomics and day-to-day functionality of the space. Above all, we wanted people to really get to know each other and to develop team spirit at work. 

The basis of our design logic was to create spaces that encourage open-mindedness and the free flow of communication and ideas between employees. 

Behind each employee, each manager, are passionate men and women who share common values. 
These same values and desires drive them to these professional premises every day.

### Of course, at Factory, we always follow through on our ideas. We were inspired by the premium décor of illustrious social clubs: in our choice of top-of-the-range materials; and using the constraints of blending in with the natural ornaments of the venue: - cut stone, mouldings, terracotta tiles, etc.

Elegance and simplicity create an atmosphere of tranquillity on arrival. The cycle parking, replete with repair kit and secure changing rooms, delights Owkin's fine team of cyclists. In an already magnificent setting, a spiral stone staircase leads up to the 1st floor, leaving plenty of room for social interaction. 

On the ground floor, the reception area offers comfortable, open-plan lounges in a refined setting.

A large living room is dedicated to catering, breaks and in-house events. It has been designed to generate new stories every day, the stories that strengthen Owkin's corporate culture today. 

Because productivity and performance require a good balance of concentration and breathing space, we couldn't overlook the design of break-out rooms.

The meeting rooms and modular spaces, decorated with exceptional materials, set a new tone for  and collaboration and group work.

As the nerve centre of social and convivial spaces, this recreation space has been designed for all, with a basketball hoop, bookshelves, board games and musical instruments available to employees at all times. Work hard, play hard.

Cosy lounges are partitioned from the open spaces and encourage small group discussions. Other individual spaces have been designed to encourage seclusion. The whole is a real bubble of productivity and concentrated efficiency, away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below.

The second floor has been designed as a place conducive to concentration.

### In short, this is a workplace combining subtle nuances of history and modernity, character and warmth, productivity and fun. All with a view to fostering relationships. 

The work was carried out at the same time as the employees took possession of the premises, enabling us to provide an after-sales service that was much appreciated by Owkin. It was a marvellous challenge to ensure and perpetuate the wonderful history of this company within budget and to tight deadlines. 

Zanago Sanou

Client testimony

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A showcase for beauty in the heart of Paris.

A rising star on the clean beauty scene for 10 years now, Oh My Cream and its founder Juliette Lévy Cohen make the same promise to their employees as they do to their customers: to take care of them every day. The brand's mission is to reinvent the conventions that have defined the skincare sector for far too long.

The entire Factory team worked with Oh My Cream to find and design their future premises in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

Juliette Lévy Cohen has the spirit of a challenger, leading her to build the foundations for more natural, more transparent and more effective cosmetics.
To give substance to the promise of better well-being, the start-up wanted to invest in a new location that would reflect its image, its expertise and its ambitions.

Oh My Cream makes room for novelty.

Naturally, this quickly led to the need to rethink the space dedicated to creativity and innovation, to give ideas more room. To rise to the challenge, we brought in the crème de la crème of the Factory teams: interior architects, designers and property experts, who redoubled their efforts to work together to shape a space that perfectly embodied Oh My Cream's DNA and vision.

In recent months, the brand's strong growth has meant that new talent has been brought in to strengthen the existing teams.

From research to fitting out, the guiding principle of this project was to design offices that were as functional and as clean as the ingredients in its products.  

Oh My Cream reveals its true colours in its new offices.

The architectural premise put forward to Oh My Cream was based on our conviction that natural light sheds a different complexion on feelings and ideas. Responding to dual aesthetic and functional requirements, the glass partitions make it possible to delimit spaces without restricting the free flow of ideas.

For Factory, the passage of ideas is as important as the passage of light in living spaces.

The functional dimension has a major influence on intangible relational dynamics. We have literally modelled our design on the same conviction: immerse spaces in light, to help employees and managers see things more clearly on a daily basis. 

At Factory, we believe that modularisation and decoration of professional spaces have a real impact on business productivity.

With 280 m2 of offices and meeting rooms, our commitment to Oh My Cream was to make decision-making processes clearer and more fluid. Team collaboration was therefore a cornerstone in the design of these new spaces. Bench seating for 4 to 8 people, hybrid meeting rooms and areas dedicated to customer relations have enhanced Factory's response to Oh my Cream and its partners' (beauty bloggers and journalists) needs. As a cosmetics brand first and foremost, it was nonetheless imperative to include private beauty rooms, to test and present products with a view to influencing marketing.

Premises as 'clean' as the company's products.

In keeping with the brand's visual universe and imagination, Factory designed uncluttered, all-white offices, softened with pastel touches for Oh My Cream. Decorative ornaments add depth and a little glamour to the minimalist, modern premises. Like the brand's boutiques, the head office's relationship and professional spaces have been designed as a veritable "temple to beauty".

In terms of the office culture, we have drawn on strengthening the links between employees by reinventing the staff's social interactions. A fully-equipped lounge area and kitchen provide the ideal breeding ground for cultivating employees' well-being and creating warm spaces for day-to-day interaction.

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