Henkel

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Henkel's new Paris headquarters transforms three floors of Metal 57 into a connected workplace that strengthens community, wellbeing, and brand identity.

Location

Boulogne, France

Client

Henkel

Expertise

[FPO] PSF Consumer Goods [FPO] Interiors

Opportunity

How can a global brand foster connection and belonging while transitioning to open-plan work within an iconic industrial landmark?

Henkel selected Metal 57, the transformation of a former Renault manufacturing facility, as its new Paris headquarters. The project called for more than a conventional workplace fit out. Employees were moving from a traditional office environment to an open-plan model for the first time, requiring a workplace that could support new ways of working while balancing comfort, collaboration, and individual focus. At the same time, the design needed to celebrate the building’s architectural heritage, reinforce Henkel’s brand identity, and meet ambitious sustainability goals through minimal intervention and carbon-conscious design strategies.

Why This Matters

01
Workplace Transformation
The project supports a significant cultural shift, helping employees embrace new ways of working while maintaining a strong sense of belonging.
02
Industrial Heritage
Rather than competing with Metal 57's architectural character, the design celebrates and respects the building's unique identity.
03
Sustainability Goals
The project demonstrates how workplace transformation can be achieved while minimizing resource consumption and embodied carbon.

FPO Quote

Solution

A continuous red "Henkel Wire" links people, places, and experiences, creating a workplace narrative across three interconnected floors.

At the center of the design is the "Henkel Wire," a bold red architectural element that acts as both a wayfinding tool and symbolic connector across the workplace. Three distinct environments, community spaces, focus areas, and collaboration zones, are organized around this central spine. Inspired by the site's location between the Seine and Bois de Boulogne, biophilic interventions introduce greenery, natural materials, and visual connections to nature. Brand expression, environmental graphics, and community destinations reinforce a shared workplace identity while encouraging interaction and movement.

From brief to build: using a single design thread to unite workplace experience, sustainability ambitions, and brand identity.

The design process focused on identifying how a large workplace could feel cohesive and human-centered. The team developed the Henkel Wire as an organizing principle connecting destinations, teams, and experiences throughout the office. Biophilic design studies explored opportunities to create stronger connections to nature, while branding and environmental graphics drew inspiration from Parisian culture and local context. Simultaneously, the project team worked to preserve existing building systems and infrastructure, minimizing modifications while maximizing workplace impact.

Connecting the Workplace

The Henkel Wire links three workplace levels through shared destinations, creating continuity, movement, and a stronger sense of community.

Impact

Henkel's new headquarters creates a stronger sense of community while supporting wellbeing, sustainability, and a shared workplace culture.

The workplace helps employees transition to new working behaviors while providing an engaging environment rooted in identity and belonging.

What Changed Because of This

01
Employee Connection
Shared social and collaboration spaces encourage interaction between teams and strengthen community across the workplace.
02
Workplace Experience
A variety of work settings supports focus, collaboration, learning, and social engagement throughout the day.
03
Environmental Performance
Retaining existing systems and incorporating recycled materials reduced the project's overall environmental impact.

For Henkel’s Boulogne office, our design brings the company’s pioneering spirit to life through a dynamic, sustainable layout that integrates biophilic elements and promotes collaboration.

Recognition

01

Office Snapshots

Gensler brings Henkel’s pioneering spirit to life through the design of its Boulogne workplace

Team

Project Leadership

Philippe Paré

Philippe Paré is the Co-Managing Principal for Gensler’s Europe region. Based in the Paris office, Philippe plays a dual role, driving the growth of the Paris office and Gensler’s business across France, while helping to expand the firm’s European presence.

[FPO] Barbara Burg

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[FPO] Jean-Pierre Bouanha

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Related Expertise

PSF Consumer Goods Interiors

Henkel's new Paris headquarters transforms three floors of Metal 57 into a connected workplace that strengthens community, wellbeing, and brand identity.

How can a global brand foster connection and belonging while transitioning to open-plan work within an iconic industrial landmark?

Why This Matters

A continuous red "Henkel Wire" links people, places, and experiences, creating a workplace narrative across three interconnected floors.

From brief to build: using a single design thread to unite workplace experience, sustainability ambitions, and brand identity.

Henkel's new headquarters creates a stronger sense of community while supporting wellbeing, sustainability, and a shared workplace culture.

What Changed Because of This