Located next to the Etobicoke Creek conservation area, the HQ of tech firm Volaris is favoured with an unexpected view into a lush green forest. To maximize the calming effects of the natural setting, our team worked to blur the lines between inside and out, bringing the woods into the office.

Rather than contrast the forest view with a rigid workstation layout, we swapped standard right angles for 120-degree desks, grouping them in winding formations that appear cellular in their configuration. This non-traditional plan’s organic movement and flow promotes more interaction – just one of many ways the space encourages collaboration.

Devised to inspire spontaneous conversation, the project incorporates a spacious café, multiple breakout zones, and 10 glass-wrapped meeting rooms. While the main boardroom is veiled by privacy glass, the rest of the walls are completely transparent, offering a sense of openness while maintaining views.

The project’s pièce de résistance is the Boardwalk – a six-foot-wide pathway that runs the full length of the windows. Delineated by a change in the direction of the wood floor planks, this indoor trail is scattered with pairs of mid-century modern wingback chairs and a series of eight-foot-tall ficus trees. It’s an inviting amenity from which anyone in the office can enjoy the natural beauty of the site.