Four By Two

Someone’s career is so often an extension of themselves; sometimes their passion, a vocation or in aid of a cause they care deeply about. We all spend a huge percentage of our time at work, so it is important then that the environment in which we find ourselves has the power to impact, influence and inspire our day and productivity. This is true across all jobs; whether a corporate role, outside in nature or in customer service, our surroundings have the potential to affect.

This is something we consider daily – as interior architects and branding specialists, we are constantly considering how someone will feel in the space we are creating and how they will bond with it. The creation of the Global Health Campus in Geneva, is a unique opportunity for Four-by-Two and how we envisage the creation of a collaborative work space for the Global Fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as well as additional organisations and charities whose primary goal is tackling global health issues. The Global Fund’s mission is to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. Gavi is a global partnership which brings together public and private sectors with the shared goal of creating equal access to vaccines for all people.

Working directly with the Global Fund and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, we have devised a transformative brand and space that unites both organisations, utilising the communal areas. These are designed to act as breathable and organic zones, with the ability to take on the many varying needs of the organisations working at the Global Health Campus.

The Global Fund and Gavi appointed Four-by-Two with the task of manifesting this collaborative space that aims to bring the efficiency and alliance of a creative working environment to a unique habitat. Housing not only the Global Fund and Gavi but also multiple organisations and over a thousand employees, it aims to increase happiness and yield innovation with a united front in a bonded location. It was immediately obvious that people are the heart of all organisations involved, whether staff, brand ambassadors or those the work is aiming to help there was a true sense of equality among everyone that we came across in abundance. It was this that informed our creative route.

Focusing on the notion of human touch we looked at the traditional art of body painting which inspired the word marque and signifier for the Campus. Again, replicating the concept of an organic, living entity, the design takes on this persona with the seven strands symbolising the seven floors of the building. Using pictorials as the common language throughout the building further enforced that we are all the same. By speaking to everyone in this language that we all understand, it unites us in deeper, meaningful ways. Looking closer at the functionality of the joint spaces was also a key factor in the project. Having bespoke areas, open plan office spaces and breakout areas for all the organisations housed in the Campus delivered flexibility and new interesting ways of working which was of the upmost importance. The floors have the added bonus of being able to take advantage of beautiful views over the Alps with an abundance of natural light so interiors themselves could be kept neutral in design and style with the addition of versatile features. We added timber frames and battens across walls that take on the appearance of art but have the functionality of hanging clipboards, pinning inspiration and propping timelines for meetings as well as large scale whiteboards that can be utilised when inspiration strikes. In the open spaces, that take on the titles of ‘workshop’, ‘greenspace’ and ‘retreat there are bleachers and benches forming a more casual, interactive space to gather and share thoughts and ideas.

With adaptability forming a root concept in this project we are excited by the implementation of phase one with the potential for continued growth, transformative augmentation and humble additions in ongoing phases that will always compliment the conscientious and dedicated work completed by those at the Global Fund, Gavi and the other organisations based at the Global Health Campus.