MVRDV

Shopify Offices Berlin

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

Shopify Offices Berlin 

MVRDV

ARCHITECTS
MVRDV

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Tm-ausbau Gmbh

MEP
Buro Happold

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND SIGNAGE
Mvrdv + Shopify

EVENT MEDIA ADVISOR
Asc - Amptown System Company Gmbh

CULINARY ADVISOR/PLANNER
Shw Design

GREENERY ADVISOR/SUPPLIER
Plant Club

DESIGN TEAM
Fokke Moerel, Aser Giménez Ortega, Elien Deceuninck, Jeremy De Hoop, Egle Jacinaviciute, Pim Bangert, Xiaoyi Qin, Carl Jarneving, Chiara Arena

MVRDV GERMANY
Lennaart Sirag, Alexa Linde

PARTNER
Fokke Moerel

CO ARCHITECT
Stoeckert Architekten

COPYRIGHT
Mvrdv Winy Maas, Jacob Van Rijs, Nathalie De Vries

PROJECT COORDINATION
Turner + Townsend Gmbh

ARTWORK
Carolina Amaya

OFFICE FURNITURE DEALER
Wexim Gmbh

PHOTOGRAPHS
Daria Scagliola

AREA
1038 M²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Berlin, Germany

CATEGORY
Offices Interiors

MVRDV has completed the interior redesign of Shopify Berlin, located on Köpenicker Strasse in the Berlin-Mitte district.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

Designed as a contrast to the home office with a focus on highly intentional collaboration as a collective experience, the 1,000-square-metre interior project provides the dynamic Canadian-founded commerce company an ideal design for its re-think of the purpose of its physical workspaces.

In early 2020, the planned renovation of Shopify’s office building in Berlin-Mitte was already well underway.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

Then came the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, and with it a sudden switch to working from home that caused the company to dramatically rethink what it needed from its office building.

Acknowledging that focused individual work is best completed remotely, Shopify brought MVRDV on board for a redesign that maximizes the building’s potential as a base for working collaboratively with others, brainstorming new ideas, and engaging in the company’s vibrant culture.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

MVRDV’s interior design primarily occupies the ground floor and basement levels, as well as additional prime spaces up to the sixth floor.

It comprises three “on-site” rooms, which serve as the primary meeting rooms, as well as a variety of “experience rooms” which enable company gatherings, more casual work environments, and other, more specific atmospheres.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

Wherever possible, the design takes the sustainable approach of re-using elements from the previous half-built renovation, making use of everything from wall and floor finishes to lighting fixtures and furniture.

For example, 100% of the lighting fixtures were purchased prior to MVRDV's design.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

In addition to the typical conference table, each of the on-site rooms is embellished with a “color lounge”, an adjacent space separated by a curtain that provides a more comfortable environment for free-flowing discussions.

The colors of these lounges – like the colors throughout the design – are based on the visual identity of Shopify.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

The project celebrates not only Shopify culture but also the Berlin cityscape, providing a visual reminder of the things that make the city an exciting place to live and work.

The reception desk makes use of blue-green “metro tiles” in reference to the city’s U-Bahn stations, while the opposite wall features the art piece Intersections by Carolina Amaya, recalling the city’s vibrant street art.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

The experience rooms include a Volkspark and Baumgarten, used for lunches and for company gatherings, which are filled with plants provided by Berlin-based company Plantclub.

Downstairs is the club, referencing Berlin’s famous nightlife, which provides a space for events or for casual socializing surrounded by a continuous screen on the walls.

Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola
Shopify Offices Berlin
© Daria Scagliola

Also found downstairs is the “secret room”, a more private meeting space with a clandestine atmosphere – perfect for breaking out of the day-to-day mindset in more high-stakes work projects.


Shopify Offices Berlin
Basement floor plan
Shopify Offices Berlin
Ground floor plan
Shopify Offices Berlin
Level 6 floor plan

MVRDV
T +31 10 477 2860
MVRDV
Achterklooster 7, 3011 RA Rotterdam, Netherlands