Workplace Atlanticus: designing the architecture of work

The Divilux project in Porto is a powerful example of how contemporary design can elevate the everyday into a refined spatial experience—where technology becomes a tool for deeper reflection on the relationship between space, function, and well-being.

Today’s workplace goes far beyond its operational role. It emerges as a complex spatial ecosystem shaped by human interactions, perceptual comfort, and architectural clarity. This vision defines the new executive offices of Atlanticus, in the heart of Porto. Designed by Divilux—Etoile’s Portuguese partner—the space rethinks the very role of walls and user experience, giving both an active part in shaping the environment.

The project unfolds as a fluid spatial continuum, orchestrated through technical elements of striking formal purity. These ensure visual transparency and functional coherence. Frameless partition walls act not as barriers but as light-touch spatial articulators—glass membranes that modulate rather than divide, allowing natural light to flow freely and creating a unified perception of space.

Within this framework, the use of curved geometries further enhances the fluidity of the spatial narrative: the partitions do not merely define boundaries—they trace paths, guide the gaze, and suggest direction. Curvature becomes both a perceptual and poetic device, dissolving the notion of compartmentalization and encouraging a soft, seamless transition between areas. This design philosophy rejects the corner as a point of rupture, embracing instead the twist as an invitation to movement and experiential continuity. To borrow the words of Oscar Niemeyer, one of the most visionary architects of the last century: “I’m not attracted to the straight angle or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. What attracts me is the free and sensual curve…”

The choice of the Metrica F system reflects a deliberate design strategy of subtraction, rather than a pursuit of purely aesthetic effects. By eliminating visually intrusive frames, the project achieves a cleaner, more refined composition—enhancing visual comfort and elevating transparency as a true architectural material. The result is a network of interconnected spaces, shaped not by physical barriers but by ethereal transparencies—spaces that breathe, communicate, and adapt, offering an environment where clarity and openness define the experience.

At the core of this spatial composition is Dodici, the integrated workstation system that redefines the traditional desk as a refined and balanced statement piece. Its precise proportions, structural simplicity, and high-quality materials create a presence that feels both authoritative and light, combining elegance with functional clarity.

Atlanticus ultimately proves how workspace design can become a strategic tool in shaping how an organization works and communicates. This is not an office made of separate pieces, but a unified, living environment—where every element plays a role in building a strong, flexible, and clearly defined identity.