Nestled in a lush green setting along the axis between Ghent and Lille, the new headquarters of concrete manufacturer Nivolo emerges like a bold architectural retreat, sculptural and serene. The structure recalls a cultural Latin American pavilion with its rhythmic facade and reflecting pools, where 1960s optimism meets contemporary clarity. Designed to inspire, this is a workplace shaped by openness, light, and warmth. The layout encourages calm focus and gentle movement, offering employees a daily setting that feels closer to a creative sanctuary than a conventional office.

Outside, white concrete meets water in quiet dialogue. In the showroom, reflections dance across mirrored totems, where Nivolo's signature product samples are displayed like precious artefacts. A grand spiral staircase wrapped in exposed rebar anchors the entrance hall. The reception evokes a boutique hotel, complete with a lounge corner, two meeting rooms, and an in-house bistro. Here, tropical greenery mingles with a rippling glass-block wall. Capri tiles, a poured-concrete bench, velvet cushions, and warm wood tones come together in a modern composition.

Upstairs, the open workspace features H2O desks by Claire Bataille for Bulo, an icon of Belgian design. Executive offices and a generous boardroom are grounded in pure materials, measured symmetry, and refined detail. Smoked larch wood flows throughout the interiors, from custom cabinetry to the wall cladding in silent zones. Bespoke elements, such as terrazzo washbasins in the restrooms, soft brass handles on cabinetry and doors, and a pale pink terrazzo-concrete table designed for architectural reviews, sit alongside carefully chosen vintage objects.

Designed by Belgian interior architect Aurélie Penneman, Nivolo is a masterclass in composition and material intelligence. Each line, finish, and transition is deliberately placed, drawing from brutalism without ever feeling cold. There’s poetry in the restraint, and clarity in the detailing. With its assured elegance, confident atmosphere and tactile richness, this building doesn’t just house a company, it reads like a manifesto in concrete and light. Unmistakably hers.