The lobby of TMN Portaviones in Barcelona is conceived as an urban clearing: a transitional space where the intensity of the city dissolves into the calm of a digital forest. The design merges high-tech corporate precision with biophilic immersion, using large-scale media façades and continuous light lines to evoke the experience of walking through a forest at daytime. Every gesture in plan, volume and lighting is oriented toward softening the threshold between exterior and interior, public street and corporate tower.
The project addresses the lobby not only as a reception, but as a spatial interface between users and building systems. Access control, wayfinding, security and branding are integrated into a single fluid landscape. Visual continuity and controlled reflections extend the perceived dimensions of the hall, amplifying the sense of openness while maintaining a clear functional hierarchy.
The lobby develops as a linear nave parallel to the façade, guiding visitors from the main entrance towards the elevator core. Turnstiles, reception desk and waiting areas are aligned along this axis, ensuring intuitive circulation and optimal visibility. The double-height volume at the entrance reinforces the sense of arrival, while the progressive narrowing of the space creates a subtle gradient from public to semi-private zones.
Vertical surfaces are articulated through tall glazed modules and backlit panels that rhythmically echo the trunks of a forest. The access-control line is positioned so as to maintain visual continuity across the entire hall, allowing guests and employees to share the same spatial experience while preserving security protocols.
The material palette balances technological rigor with warm tactility. Large-format stone or porcelain tiles in neutral grey form a robust and continuous floor, while white solid-surface elements sculpt the reception desk and ceiling volumes with sharp, precise edges. These monolithic elements are contrasted by warm timber soffits and cladding, which introduce a natural grain reminiscent of tree canopies and forest floors.
Joints, reveals and shadow gaps are carefully controlled to enhance the perception of floating planes. The reception counter integrates lighting and signage in a single folded volume, eliminating visual noise. Metal finishes on elevator doors and turnstiles are kept in a satin tone, reflecting light softly without generating glare, complementing the digital forest imagery instead of competing with it.
Lighting acts as the main narrative tool of the project. Continuous LED profiles trace the edges of ceilings and walls, describing sinuous lines that recall pathways of light filtering through foliage. Indirect illumination accentuates the sculptural ceiling geometry, avoiding harsh contrasts and promoting visual comfort in a space with extensive glass and reflective surfaces.
The key feature is the large-scale digital façade displaying high-resolution images of a forest in daylight. This media surface operates as an artificial horizon, bringing depth and movement into the lobby. Programmable content allows subtle variations in luminosity and color temperature throughout the day, aligning the interior ambience with circadian rhythms and reinforcing user well-being.
The chromatic palette is purposefully restrained: whites, greys and natural wood tones create a neutral, timeless backdrop. Against this quiet base, the green hues of the digital forest become the true protagonist, infusing the lobby with a vivid yet non-invasive presence. The overall effect is calming and legible, avoiding visual fatigue despite the intensity of the digital content.
Corporate identity is integrated with discretion. Logos and graphic elements appear as part of the architectural composition, embedded in the reception desk and media surfaces rather than superimposed. This approach reinforces a perception of the brand as technologically advanced yet respectful of the environment and user experience.
The project adopts sustainability as a design driver through both active and passive strategies. Extensive use of high-efficiency LEDs with digital control systems reduces energy consumption and allows adaptation of lighting levels to occupancy patterns and natural daylight. The digital forest content is calibrated to operate within low-brightness parameters, minimizing energy demand and light pollution while maintaining visual impact.
Biophilic design principles are central: large-scale natural imagery, warm natural materials and a balanced acoustic treatment collectively support user comfort and psychological well-being. Durable, low-maintenance finishes extend the life cycle of the lobby, reducing the need for replacements and associated embodied energy. Integration of ventilation diffusers within the ceiling geometry ensures uniform air distribution without visual clutter, reinforcing both environmental quality and the overall coherence of the space.
The lobby of TMN Portaviones in Barcelona is conceived as an urban clearing: a transitional space where the intensity of the city dissolves into the calm of a digital forest. The design merges high-tech corporate precision with biophilic immersion, using large-scale media façades and continuous light lines to evoke the experience of walking through a forest at daytime. Every gesture in plan, volume and lighting is oriented toward softening the threshold between exterior and interior, public street and corporate tower.
The project addresses the lobby not only as a reception, but as a spatial interface between users and building systems. Access control, wayfinding, security and branding are integrated into a single fluid landscape. Visual continuity and controlled reflections extend the perceived dimensions of the hall, amplifying the sense of openness while maintaining a clear functional hierarchy.
The lobby develops as a linear nave parallel to the façade, guiding visitors from the main entrance towards the elevator core. Turnstiles, reception desk and waiting areas are aligned along this axis, ensuring intuitive circulation and optimal visibility. The double-height volume at the entrance reinforces the sense of arrival, while the progressive narrowing of the space creates a subtle gradient from public to semi-private zones.
Vertical surfaces are articulated through tall glazed modules and backlit panels that rhythmically echo the trunks of a forest. The access-control line is positioned so as to maintain visual continuity across the entire hall, allowing guests and employees to share the same spatial experience while preserving security protocols.
The material palette balances technological rigor with warm tactility. Large-format stone or porcelain tiles in neutral grey form a robust and continuous floor, while white solid-surface elements sculpt the reception desk and ceiling volumes with sharp, precise edges. These monolithic elements are contrasted by warm timber soffits and cladding, which introduce a natural grain reminiscent of tree canopies and forest floors.
Joints, reveals and shadow gaps are carefully controlled to enhance the perception of floating planes. The reception counter integrates lighting and signage in a single folded volume, eliminating visual noise. Metal finishes on elevator doors and turnstiles are kept in a satin tone, reflecting light softly without generating glare, complementing the digital forest imagery instead of competing with it.
Lighting acts as the main narrative tool of the project. Continuous LED profiles trace the edges of ceilings and walls, describing sinuous lines that recall pathways of light filtering through foliage. Indirect illumination accentuates the sculptural ceiling geometry, avoiding harsh contrasts and promoting visual comfort in a space with extensive glass and reflective surfaces.
The key feature is the large-scale digital façade displaying high-resolution images of a forest in daylight. This media surface operates as an artificial horizon, bringing depth and movement into the lobby. Programmable content allows subtle variations in luminosity and color temperature throughout the day, aligning the interior ambience with circadian rhythms and reinforcing user well-being.
The chromatic palette is purposefully restrained: whites, greys and natural wood tones create a neutral, timeless backdrop. Against this quiet base, the green hues of the digital forest become the true protagonist, infusing the lobby with a vivid yet non-invasive presence. The overall effect is calming and legible, avoiding visual fatigue despite the intensity of the digital content.
Corporate identity is integrated with discretion. Logos and graphic elements appear as part of the architectural composition, embedded in the reception desk and media surfaces rather than superimposed. This approach reinforces a perception of the brand as technologically advanced yet respectful of the environment and user experience.
The project adopts sustainability as a design driver through both active and passive strategies. Extensive use of high-efficiency LEDs with digital control systems reduces energy consumption and allows adaptation of lighting levels to occupancy patterns and natural daylight. The digital forest content is calibrated to operate within low-brightness parameters, minimizing energy demand and light pollution while maintaining visual impact.
Biophilic design principles are central: large-scale natural imagery, warm natural materials and a balanced acoustic treatment collectively support user comfort and psychological well-being. Durable, low-maintenance finishes extend the life cycle of the lobby, reducing the need for replacements and associated embodied energy. Integration of ventilation diffusers within the ceiling geometry ensures uniform air distribution without visual clutter, reinforcing both environmental quality and the overall coherence of the space.
Nuestras oficinas están en Barcelona, Cancún, Chicago y Santo Domingo, pero gracias a la tecnología podemos desarrollar proyectos en cualquier parte del mundo.
Barcelona
Bac de Roda 136
08020, Barcelona
Spain
Madrid
Av. de Buendía 11
19005 Guadalajara (Madrid)
Spain
Chicago
373 Hazel Ave, Apt A1
60022, Glencoe, Illinois
United States