Project Description
Bacardi is the largest, family-owned, privately-held spirits company in the world. At the new Barcelona office, IA’s design pays homage to Bacardi’s Cuban and Spanish heritage and calls out each of the company’s five brands—Bombay Sapphire, Martini &Rossi, Gray Goose, Dewar’s, and, of course, Bacardi. With the goals of working smarter, driving innovation, and enriching the Bacardi workplace experience for 170 staff, as well as hosting clients, partners, and international colleagues, the project also targeted and achieved WELL certification.
Seamlessly incorporating five distinctive brands into the single-floor workspace was challenging, but IA’s experience designing Bacardi’s London office and close work with client teams to craft the brand expression paved the way. Bacardi’s classic, signature artwork, adapted for bespoke solutions, is seen across tiles, fabrics, and wall coverings.
The design tells the Bacardi story. Materials, provided by local suppliers, reference different points on the Bacardi timeline—wallpaper behind the fully-stocked bar for Cuba; metro tiles for Italy and Martini and Rossi; Gaudi tiles, Miro-style pendant lights, and timber floors for Barcelona. A dedicated story wall adds annotation.
Each brand inspires a unique space. There is the Dewar’s Library, the Bacardi Bar, the Martini Espresso Bar Lounge, and the Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire meeting rooms. For large groups, the Bacardi Bar can be merged with the Bombay Sapphire Room via a folding glass curtain wall. A variety of formal and informal meeting environments host groups of all sizes and accommodate work-style preferences. In one area, seat steps are an option for informal meetings or as an alternative workspace.