This ain't Tennessee

Cool and comfy, the Cabedge offices break the mould in Nashville.

At number 559 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee you'll see something unusual. The boxy exterior of Cabedge's office sticks out like a sore thumb. As a city renowned for its country music, it is immediately clear these offices follow a different tune.

"In our area of the country, architecture is predominately conservative. This design breaks with that tradition and provides us with a unique persona. It helps us gain new business, and is equally beneficial in our recruiting efforts," says head of Cabedge Chris Blanz.

Cabedge.com - a design firm that prides itself on being born on April Fool's Day - happily occupies this space. In a nutshell, the company "makes tools that make communicating more efficient", conceiving and creating websites among other media.

The office space reflects the company perfectly: it's bold and playful, yet simple and uncluttered.

The colours are a melodic blend of browns and oranges, creating a homely calming ambience.

Effectively a company of artists, the team at Cabedge understands how colours speak; they understand the effect the pleasant blend of soft earthy colours brings to the workspace.

The office was originally designed for Malakouti Architects, which moved out and passed on the premises to Cabedge. The look suited the design firm perfectly.

Malakouti has left its mark through a number of projects in the area, and its pioneering designs in Nashville's residential areas have made an impression. This office is no exception.

The exterior features a funky Lego-like design with large, tiled windows and brick walls sandwiched in between.

Windows are placed slap-dash throughout the office at different levels and sizes, popping up where you least expect them.

A splash of concrete and a dash of brick break this pattern. "The space is meant to be fun, inspirational, and casual - exactly Cabedge's personality," says Ali Malakouti of Malakouti Architects.

Carrying on with its comfy mood, the meeting and conference room is also a casual and friendly affair with minimal decoration, a set of simple white chairs
and a rug.

"My favourite part is the lighting. Facing north with so many windows, we get the benefit of the natural light without the harshness of full sun. Others say they love the overall vibe they get walking in each day.

"The shapes they used are so simple, but the way they arranged them is so deceivingly complex that I'm always finding something new. The space definitely helps inspire creativity," says Chris.

The pride of the office is a glass-fronted room with a mosaic of different glass. At different times of day the hanging pieces of glass tease the light into a playful dance around the room.

As well as being funky, the building is at one with nature. Architects Mohsen and Ali Malakouti have ensured aspects of the environment are integrated throughout. With the comfort of nature surrounding you, communication is fostered and creativity inspired.

Ali elaborates on this point saying, "Our task was to create an office that married the both elements of nature and cutting edge design in a sensitive way and maintained the beautiful surrounding landscape.

"To put it simply, the form reflects the sloped terrain and affords views of the surrounding suburb, while the materials used reflect the those found in neighbouring traditional homes (brick and stucco) and office buildings (store front glass, aluminium and steel)."

The result? A work space devoid of conventions. Solid doors, blind covered windows and cubicles have been banished and open space planning welcomed with open arms.

All 400ft² of the office is open, wide and light. Cabedge's mantra - "Good design matters; good communication matters more" - is reflected perfectly in its office space.