Details
The Horizon office in Warsaw is Nordea Bank’s critical cybersecurity hub for Europe. The facility operates 24/7, integrating software development and security operations in a space that deliberately breaks away from corporate norms. To reflect the advanced, confidential nature of the work — and to compete for top-tier IT talent — the design merges high-stakes functionality with an immersive, NASA-inspired aesthetic while offering a human-centric, biophilic environment for the specialists who protect it.
2500
Square meters of area
15
Months of work
1
Futuristic ecosystem
"Horizon" is not just an office; it is a high-performance machine designed for the digital age. As Nordea Bank’s key investment in Europe, this facility functions as a Global Command & Control Centre where IT experts monitor banking security and automation 24/7. It operates like a living organism where architecture and technology are indistinguishably fused to support critical data security while strengthening Nordea’s image as a tech-forward employer.
Cinematic Vision
The design drawing from science fiction, evokes the aesthetics of NASA command decks and cinematic visions of the future. By referencing films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tron, and Alien, we created an immersive environment that feels entirely removed from the ordinary world. The result is a narrative-driven space that instils a sense of importance and confidentiality in everyone who enters.
2
Zoning and spatial planning
The foundation of the functional layout involved a bold structural change: merging the building’s top two floors into a singular, integrated volume. This decision was critical for operational speed. By breaking down physical barriers, we improved communication flow between teams and shortened reaction times to system errors, creating a layout where high-alert monitoring zones are centralised and support spaces radiate outward.
The command auditorium
The heart of the middle floor is the main operational theatre — a two-story auditorium centred around a massive video wall. Overlooking this space is the "Captain’s Bridge," a supervisory zone for managers. This spatial arrangement is not merely symbolic; it allows for immediate visual oversight of the entire command centre from a single vantage point.
The vertical "space-time" tunnel
Connecting the three operational levels is the project’s circulatory spine—a custom internal staircase designed to resemble a space-time tunnel. Flanked by giant infinity mirrors and illuminated by steps that light up underfoot, the staircase creates an impression of teleportation. It serves as the physical and visual link between the high-intensity command areas and the restorative common zones, featuring a continuous green wall that runs along its entire height.
3
Design details and scenography
Designing a space that operates 24/7 and handles highly sensitive information during all that time brings with itself a set of unique requirements that further separate it from a traditional office space. That is why the project goes beyond and above just its futuristic look and implements a handful of carefully designed solutions that we would normally see only in movies.
Light and transparency as a function
In a facility that operates around the clock, the environment and the day cycle start to become a problem. To solve that problem, implemented cellular polycarbonate partitions address the conflict between openness and secrecy; this material maintains a luminous, airy atmosphere while optically blurring sensitive data on screens from unauthorised view. Similarly, the lighting infrastructure is programmed with intelligent scenarios that adapt to the office's rhythm, supporting the circadian needs of staff working night shifts.
The "Red Alert" protocol
The Captain's Bridge features a bespoke emergency communication tool integrated directly into the architecture. In the event of a critical system error or security threat, managers can instantly shift the entire lighting scheme of the bridge to red. This visual cue communicates the alert status immediately to the operational floor below in situations where time is the most crucial factor.
Access security
The journey into the heart of Horizon begins with a deliberate psychological and physical threshold. Access is controlled through a specially designed "airlock" entry system — a high-security buffer zone that immediately signals the restricted nature of the facility. This automated sequence does not just physically shelter the sensitive operations within; it acts as a mental transition, enforcing a feeling of safety and exclusivity for the experts entering the secure zone.
4
Tailored experience
Despite the high-tech, monochromatic aesthetic, the human element remains central. We balanced the "cosmic" geometry with extensive biophilia, including the "Space Garden"—a quiet zone with soft furniture and hanging chairs. Additionally, the central kitchen features a glass vivarium housing tropical plants and floral installations lit by hexagonal fixtures, serving as the communal hearth.
The experience hub
Located on the top floor within a restricted VIP zone is the Experience Hub — a closed, multisensory area designed to showcase Nordea’s technological capabilities. Entering this space triggers an interactive audiovisual sequence that transports guests to the "Horizon" space station, culminating in a meeting room that offers a simulated orbital view of planet Earth.
Regeneration and rest
Recognising the physical demands of 24-hour shifts, we installed sleeping capsules with full-size beds. These allow staff to rest and regenerate comfortably without ever leaving the secure zone. This focus on wellbeing ensures that while the environment looks like a spaceship, it functions with the comfort of a high-end workplace.
Scope
Research
Design
Team
Board
Bogusz Parzyszek
CEO I Founder
Dominika Zielińska
Former Managing Partner, Workplace
Design
Tomasz Wontor
Project Delivery Director
Rafał Mikulski
Senior Architect
Aleksandra Czarnecka
Senior Architect
Michał Pyka
Architect
Małgorzata Pyka
Architect
Małgorzata Romanowicz
Architect
Design Support
Maciej Kolak
Senior Architect
Urszula Dziedzic
Senior Architect
Sylwia Rebelo
Architect
Kevin Rebelo
Architect
Natalia Leszczyńska
Architect
Client
Nordea Bank
Nordea Bank Warsaw
Suppliers & partners
Photos
Adam Grzesik
