Manera Article cover Aurelie Penneman

A Warm Concrete Office Designed by Aurélie Penneman

What does a headquarters look like for a company that specialises in architectural concrete finishes? For Belgian concrete specialist Nivolo, the answer was clear. Not an industrial office. Not a standard corporate box.

Instead, Aurélie Penneman created a headquarters that feels warm, intimate and unexpectedly refined. A place where material expertise becomes tangible. A space that functions as both a workplace and a full-scale showcase of what concrete can be.

More Than an Office: A Living Tribute to Concrete

Nivolo’s new headquarters defies expectations. Located in the heart of a logistical hub where trucks and materials rule the day, the building offers a surprising sanctuary. It isn’t just a functional workspace; it’s a destination.

The Vibe:
A unique blend of “Mad Men coolness” and Latin American brutalist warmth.

The Contrast:
Masculine concrete “bones” paired with smoked larch cabinetry and lounge-like comfort.

Architectural highlights

  • The Sculptural Staircase: A central masterpiece crafted from Nivolo’s own material. It features a unique railing made from reinforcement mesh. A bold demonstration of where engineering meets aesthetics.

  • A Journey of Discovery: Designed for “slow reveal” rather than total transparency. The layout creates a rhythm of openness and intimacy, offering new details to discover with every visit.

  • The Warm Throughline: Custom smoked larch veneer cabinetry softens the industrial shell without diluting the clarity of the architecture.

The Nivolo headquarters is a spatial statement. It proves that concrete is capable of becoming something extraordinary, moving beyond industrial utility to create a sophisticated, world-class environment.

The result