Walls: Beyond the Obvious

In addition to their architectural function, walls provide an opportunity for interaction and creativity.

Walls play many roles. They can create space or act as barriers, reveal or obscure, provide surfaces for interaction from gaming to brainstorming, tell a story, kindle inspiration, and, of course, speak to biophilia. We take a look at a few of the walls IA has created for clients.

Norfolk Southern, Atlanta. Photo© Katie Bricker Photography.
Norfolk Southern, Atlanta. Photo© Katie Bricker Photography.

 

As sculptural elements, these walls define space and offer pockets for privacy.

Service Master Innovation Center, Memphis. Photo © Katie Bricker Photography.
ServiceMaster Innovation Center, Memphis. Photo © Katie Bricker Photography.

Intentionally tentative, walls at the ServiceMaster Innovation Center capture the start-up vibe and are geared for change.

Match.com Headquarters, Dallas. Photo © Thomas McConnell LLC.
Match.com Headquarters, Dallas. Photo © Thomas McConnell LLC.

Matches made are celebrated and updated on this wall with photos staff clip to a clothesline.

Confidential Client, San Francisco.
Confidential Client, San Francisco.

Inviting play, staff are challenged to fill in the blanks using magnetic letters.

Whirlpool Headquarters, Benton Harbor, MI. Photo © Tom Arban.
Whirlpool Headquarters, Benton Harbor, MI. Photo © Tom Arban.

Easily rearranged to keep it fresh, product displays,  juxtaposed with textured backlit glass panes that slowly change from blue to black (suggesting the movement of water – a central focus of many Whirlpool products), are combined with panels of bamboo and live moss to reference sustainability.

 

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IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists .We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.




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Is there more to a wall than meets the eyes? Sometimes, yes.

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