Milan Design Week 2025

Posted on April 24, 2025May 21, 2025 by damien

Milan Design Week 2025

When design design becomes experience

April 24, 2025

Every year, Milan Design Week reinvents the way we perceive space, materials and uses. 2025 was no exception. For a few days, the city was transformed into a living laboratory, where the past rubs shoulders with the avant-garde, and where design is no longer something to be looked at: it's something to be experienced.

Parella looks back at his favorites and discoveries.

Space as narrative

In Milan, places are not simply inhabited. They are transformed, staged and transcended. From historic palazzi to confidential workshops and secret showrooms, every space becomes a medium for emotion and intention.

Leading names such as Hermès, Gucci, Loewe, Aesop or Loro Piana offer us much more than just installations: they are truly immersive experiences. Light, materials, pathways... everything is designed to create meaning. Here, furnishings don't respond to a function, they tell a story.

At Parella, we believe that this narrative approach lies at the heart of the transformation of professional spaces: thinking of furnishings as sensitive writing.

Color as manifesto

Carmine red, deep lilac, olive green, Klein blue... This year, color has spoken. No longer content to accompany, it asserts, challenges, reveals.

Far from the muted codes of the service sector, vibrant hues are making their mark, injecting contrast, emotion and warmth. What if, tomorrow, color were to become a genuine strategic tool in the service of inclusion, teamwork and even well-being in the workplace?

At Parella, this reflection resonates with our convictions: colors speak to all, but tell a story unique to each individual.

An abundance of creativity, an infinite source of inspiration

Milan Design Week gave us the opportunity to rediscover iconic houses such as DEDAR MILANO, cc-tapis, Maison Pierre Frey or Élitiswhile exploring new creative territories: those of 6AM, Garance Vallée, DIMORESTUDIO, studioutteMissing Objects and Luca Zito.

These talents, both established and emerging, share a common quest: to reenchant space. They reinvent forms, hijack materials and question uses.

A new breath of fresh air that we incorporate into our projects, fueled by this
creative effervescence.

What Milan sowed, we sow.

At Parella, we are convinced that design is a catalyst for transformation. It shapes usage, embodies values and creates new possibilities.

Every project we support draws on this fertile breeding ground of inspiration, blending aesthetics, functionality and emotion.
A look back at Milan Design Week 2025, which is transforming the way we look at things and nourishing our practice, a little more every day.

Our favorite Paris Workspace Expo 2025

Posted on April 3, 2025May 21, 2025 by damien

Our favorite Paris Workspace Expo 2025

Parella at the heart of innovation at Paris Workspace Expo 2025

April 3, 2025

Strolling the aisles of Workspace Expo, you'll discover an array of innovations, concepts and bold designs that are redefining our work and living spaces.

Europe's leading trade show for workspace furniture and fittings took place from March 25 to 27 in Paris, Porte de Versailles.

The 2025 edition, bringing together over 300 French and international brands, and attracting more than 20,500 visitors, confirmed what we are already observing among our customers: the workspace has become a lever for strategic transformation.

Our teams were on hand to pick up on weak signals, explore strong trends... and confront our convictions with those of designers, manufacturers and industry experts.

The opportunity to highlight three key issues for our customers:

- The quest for increased flexibility.
- The importance of well-being and biophilic design.
- Commitments to responsibility and circularity.

This year, our absolute favorite is the Insula modular sofa, edited by Kettal and designed by the talented Patricia Urquiola.

From the very first glance, Insula is striking for its subtle blend of softness and architectural rigor. Its fluid composition, punctuated by generously proportioned modules, evokes an invitation to conviviality and well-being.

l'Insula instantly took me back to the authentic, immersive atmosphere of my last trip to Morocco. Right in the heart of Marrakech, in a lounge where low cushions and refined textiles invited relaxation and exchange, I let myself be enveloped by the voluptuousness of the materials and the warmth of the welcome.

Like a contemporary reinterpretation of these spaces for sharing, Insula transforms each place into an invitation to meet and dialogue. Its low, horizontal structure reinforces a sense of proximity, while its organic shapes and scrolled backrest add a touch of fluidity and sensory comfort.

What particularly appealed to me was its modular, adaptive aesthetic. Insula lends itself to an infinite number of configurations, adapting to the needs of a professional lobby, a domestic living room or a sun-drenched outdoor space.

Its delicately textured upholstery and palette of natural hues sublimate the space without ever weighing it down. A manifest piece, at the crossroads of design and sensory experience, that reenchants the way we inhabit our interiors.

Global Design

Posted on August 2, 2024May 20, 2025 by damien

Global Design

the era of customization by Parella

August 2, 2024

"Our mission: to reveal and distill the extra soul emanating from your brand, your DNA and your corporate culture in your living and working spaces."

Our global approach enables us to support brands in the deployment of their identity throughout their real estate project.

Photo of Thibault Poirier

At Samsung

Nicolas Flachot

Global Design Director

The creation of a multi-crea

In March 2023, Parella will regroup its creative teams and create the "Global Design" division.

A strategic ambition to respond to the evolution of its market. Increasingly involved in real estate projects, CEOs, HR Directors and Transformation Directors need to tell the story of their brand, their culture, and embody it within their new spaces.Companies are now looking for much more than functional, efficient workspaces.

Driven by Parella's raison d'être, "more than offices...", Global Design imagines ultra-personalized living spaces where people work. Their all-encompassing approach enables them to support brands in the deployment of their identity throughout their real estate projects.

Comprising a multidisciplinary team, the Global Design division brings together 22 talents:

Architectes Dplg . Interior designers . Space-planners . Decorators . Graphic designers . Visual artists . Object Designers . Motion Designers . Sound Designers . Filmmakers . Web & App Designers . Web Developers...

the genesis of Global Design at Parella

For several years now, companies have been going through a period of profound transformation. This transformation began before the Covid pandemic, was exacerbated during the pandemic and then accelerated sharply afterwards.

Companies must respond to new questions and new societal challenges, such as their social and environmental responsibilities, the return to the office, the workplace experience, the meaning given to each individual in the exercise of their professional activity, the hybridization of work, flex-office, their differentiation...

More than ever, companies need to assert their identity, their raison d'être, and make their offices a new attractive land where it's a pleasure to come, to exchange and to collaborate. The office must embody the company and support the identity, personality and expression of the brand and its products. The company headquarters naturally becomes an additional communication medium. Brands become firmly anchored in living and working spaces.We strongly believe in the power of place, and one of our jobs is to make it a showcase for the brand.

To better respond to this challenge, we decided to bring together Parella's creative teams who were already working on the conception (Design) and personalization (Image & Style) of spaces, in order to offer our customers a unique and comprehensive approach, from the outset and throughout all phases of their real estate project. We work on everything from storytelling and branding to communication media and, of course, the architecture and personalization of spaces.

The Global Design approach

It enables us to imagine, design, create and tell the story of ultra-personalized places that are totally in line with our customers' brands. Our other asset, when it comes to informing and engaging our customers' employees, is our ability to produce all kinds of communication media, for internal and external use, such as podcasts, videos, newsletters, websites, welcome booklets... all in total harmony with our customers' identities.

Offices: a place to live, a place to work

Since the advent of hybrid working and the widespread adoption of telecommuting, people no longer come to the office simply to work; it must become a landmark, an anchor, and an opportunity to socialize more.

Premises must encourage encounters, exchanges and creativity, facilitate collaboration, reinforce a sense of belonging and pride, and provide well-being for its residents.It's a place to come together, to feel part of a meaningful collective adventure... it becomes a place to live, much more than a simple work tool.

from standard to customized

Our first job is to understand the brands we work for, and then to translate their identities within the spaces. Singularity is one of our core values. Our ambition is to tell stories, to create unique, made-to-measure universes and ambiences, with an artisanal and artistic approach.

We pay particular attention to the selection of decorative objects. Some are found at antique fairs, while others are specifically created by artists or craftsmen.

For the Rémy Cointreau Group headquarters, for example, we combined objects from the heritage of the Group's brands with decorative items. The Remy Cointreau Foundation completed the personalization of the premises with a selection of works by artisans it represents.

For Groupe Rocher, we found hundreds of second-hand objects to meet the company's CSR requirements, had a 2.50 m-high custom-made sea beacon modeled and manufactured, and created recycled wood huts for each of the village squares (informal spaces 80 to 100m long).

The impact of Global Design on employer branding

There is indeed an employer brand issue at stake. In fact, the figures from our latest barometer on the evolution of work modes and spaces confirm this: 75% of employees working in offices believe that the premises contribute to their desire to stay with the company, and for 71%, they are an important or decisive criterion for choosing their future company.

If a company wants its employees to identify with its brand and feel committed to it, they need to be immersed in its corporate culture, its products, its colors, every time they come to the office.

Space is also a competitive advantage for 56% of company managers.

In addition to employees, we also need to think about visitors, suppliers, partners and customers.It's all about the overall storytelling of the brand.

We help companies to make their employees' daily lives more pleasant, to attract talent and retain their best people.

This requires listening to the customer

Undoubtedly, yes. This requires a genuine ability to listen to the customer on the one hand, and time on the other. It's essential to understand the customer, its history, its brand, its culture, its identity, its products, but also its ambitions and projects.

We strive to co-construct with our customers, as systematically as possible in a collaborative and participative approach with managers and employees alike.

Whenever possible, we take the time to immerse ourselves in the customer's world. For example, we went to La Gacilly for Groupe Rocher, and spent time at the various addresses of Groupe Rémy Cointreau before embarking on the design of the spaces.

Real estate trends 2024

Posted on April 11, 2024May 7, 2025 by damien

Real estate trends 2024

What companies need to anticipate

April 11, 2024

The commercial real estate market is undergoing radical change. Between changing working patterns, environmental demands and economic fluctuations, companies need to adapt to stay competitive. Here are the main trends to watch in 2024.

Flexibility is the watchword

The traditional model of long-term leases is gradually giving way to more adaptable solutions, such as flexible leases, coworking spaces and flex office. Companies are looking for solutions that enable them to adjust their floor space in line with their growth and the needs of their employees. This flexibility is accompanied by an increase in demand for shorter contracts and shared services, offering companies greater flexibility.

Sustainable real estate and the impact of telecommuting

With the French Climate and Resilience Act and carbon neutrality objectives, companies must integrate ecological criteria into their real estate strategy. Certified buildings (HQE, BREEAM, LEED) and eco-responsible developments are becoming a must. The optimization of energy consumption, the use of sustainable materials and green technologies are now key factors in the valuation of real estate assets.

The spread of telecommuting is prompting companies to rethink the design of their workspaces. Offices need to be more collaborative, modular and focused on employee well-being. Demand for coworking spaces and third places is exploding, offering an alternative to traditional offices. The new design solutions incorporate relaxation areas, green spaces and facilities to promote creativity and employee well-being.

Rising costs and their impact on decision-making

With rising interest rates and inflation, companies need to optimize their real estate strategy to cut costs. Renegotiating leases and optimizing floor space are becoming strategic levers. What's more, companies are turning to hybrid solutions, combining physical presence and remote working, to keep their fixed costs under control.

How to negotiate a commercial lease in 2024?

Posted on April 10, 2024May 7, 2025 by damien

negotiate your lease

How to negotiate a commercial lease in 2024?

April 10, 2024

In an economic context marked by rising interest rates, changing work patterns and new business expectations, negotiating a commercial lease is becoming a strategic challenge. In 2024, companies must anticipate these changes to obtain more flexible and advantageous conditions. Here are the key points to bear in mind.

Greater flexibility in commercial leases

The traditional 3/6/9 lease model is increasingly being called into question. Companies are looking for solutions adapted to their activity and to economic uncertainty. Negotiations must incorporate a number of levers, such as lease duration and termination conditions, adaptability of space, or shared offices.

Needs fluctuate more rapidly than ever before, and so shorter leases, early exit clauses, the possibility of extending surface areas or coworking offices are emerging options that facilitate not only the rapid growth of companies and the consequent impact on their offices, but also unforeseen events that reduce budgets.

But it's also important to keep a close eye on rent review conditions, and on less visible factors such as building energy performance, to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Securing your commercial lease: essential clauses and new obligations to anticipate

A good negotiation is based on a careful analysis of the contract. Certain points are essential to prevent exorbitant hidden costs, whether due to excessive rent increases, charges that should fall to the lessor, or renovations to bring the property up to standard. It is therefore essential to analyze the rent and its indexation, as well as the breakdown of charges, works and maintenance obligations.

With regulatory changes, companies need to pay close attention to environmental and contractual obligations:
-The Climate and Resilience Act: check that the building complies with new energy standards and that the lessor is committed to environmental improvements.
-Green Lease: Certain clauses impose commitments in terms of energy management and sustainable development.
-Compliance with new safety and accessibility standards: Check obligations relating to public access and health regulations.

Effective negotiation: best practices

To optimize your commercial lease, it's essential to prepare the discussion with the lessor - by conducting a market study to compare to compare competing offers and determine whether the proposed conditions are advantageous, by anticipating future needs and thus foreseeing the company's evolution and ensuring that the lease will be able to meet them. It's also a good idea to enlist the help of an expert: a legal advisor or real estate specialist can provide a strategic perspective and identify any areas of concern.

Real estate and sustainable development: how can you make your offices greener?

Posted on April 5, 2024May 7, 2025 by damien

Real estate and sustainable development

How can you make your offices greener?

April 05, 2024

Faced with new regulations and growing employee expectations, companies need to rethink their workspaces to reduce their environmental footprint. Energy optimization, choice of materials and responsible resource management: making offices greener is both an imperative and a performance driver.

Sustainable real estate: a regulatory necessity and an economic asset

Under the French Climate and Resilience Act, companies must improve the energy performance of their offices or risk seeing their value fall. Improved insulation, reduced consumption and the use of renewable energies are therefore essential to comply with the various certifications and standards in force, such as the HQE (High Environmental Quality) - which focuses on the management of energy, water, waste and the materials used - or the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) international certification.

But beyond the regulatory aspect, an eco-responsible office also optimizes operating costs and improves quality of life at work. A healthy, sustainable environment promotes employee well-being, strengthens commitment and enhances the company's brand image.

Concrete ways to reduce the carbon footprint of offices

Improving energy efficiency is a priority. Optimizing lighting, air-conditioning and heating helps to cut costs while limiting environmental impact. The choice of materials also plays a key role: favouring eco-friendly paints, durable furniture and recycled coverings contributes to a working environment that is more respectful of health and the environment.

Waste management is another area for improvement. Sorting waste, limiting the use of disposable consumables and encouraging the re-use of equipment considerably reduce our ecological footprint. Last but not least, the greening of workspaces improves air quality and thermal comfort, while adding a touch of well-being for employees.

Towards more responsible commercial real estate

Committing to a sustainable approach means making your offices a lever for optimization and differentiation. By integrating more environmentally-friendly practices, companies can combine performance, attractiveness and responsibility. To meet strict regulations and the high expectations of employees, eco-responsible offices, with sustainable furniture, are seen as a positive development, providing a more pleasant, healthy and motivating workspace.

Post-Covid office layout

Posted on April 4, 2024May 7, 2025 by damien

Post-Covid office layout

What new trends?

April 04, 2024

Today's offices no longer resemble those of yesterday. The health crisis has profoundly transformed the expectations of companies and employees alike, accelerating the adoption of new ways of working.

Flexibility, well-being and hybridization are now at the heart of design strategies. How are workspaces adapting to these changes? Here's a look at the major trends shaping post-Covid offices.

More flexible, hybrid workspaces

With the spread of telecommuting, offices are no longer just places for production, but spaces for collaboration and exchange. Companies are opting for modular layouts, allowing spaces to be adapted according to need: retractable meeting rooms, nomadic workstations and multi-purpose areas are on the increase. The flex office, which reduces the number of fixed offices in favor of shared spaces, is winning over more and more organizations looking to optimize their floor space while promoting agility.

Well-being in the workplace, a reinforced priority

Employees' expectations in terms of quality of life at work have evolved. Post-Covid office design incorporates more relaxation areas, quiet zones and solutions to promote conviviality. Natural light, acoustics and air quality have become essential criteria for creating a healthy and stimulating work environment. Companies are also focusing on ergonomics with adjustable furniture, alternative workspaces and areas dedicated to rejuvenation, such as green terraces or relaxation rooms.

The office, a place of corporate culture and collaboration

At a time when telecommuting is reducing the physical presence of teams, offices must play a unifying role. Workspaces are being redesigned to encourage interaction and reinforce a sense of belonging to the company. More and more collaborative zones are being created, incorporating technological equipment that encourages hybrid exchanges between on-site and remote staff. The aim: to transform the office into a veritable social hub, where creativity and collaboration are at the heart of the experience.

A reinvented working environment for tomorrow

Faced with changes in the world of work, office design needs to combine flexibility, well-being and attractiveness. More than just a workplace, the office is becoming an experience space, designed to meet the new needs of employees and organizations alike. This transformation is redefining the role of the professional environment in corporate performance.

the Climate and Resilience Act

Posted on April 2, 2024May 7, 2025 by damien

the Climate and Resilience Act

what obligations do real estate companies have?

April 02, 2024

Adopted in 2021, the Climate and Resilience Act imposes new environmental requirements on companies, particularly in the real estate sector. Energy performance, emissions reduction and adaptation to new standards are becoming unavoidable issues.

What are the concrete impacts for tenant and owner companies? We take a closer look at the main obligations and the levers for compliance.

Buildings subject to energy performance targets

The French Climate and Resilience Act sets energy performance thresholds for commercial buildings. By 2030, energy consumption must be reduced by 40%, then by 50% in 2040 and by 60% in 2050. These targets apply to offices, retail outlets and public-access buildings over 1,000 m². Companies must therefore undertake energy renovation work or optimize their equipment management to meet these requirements.

Energy performance diagnosis (DPE) becomes a key criterion

The obligation to display an energy performance diagnosis has been extended to offices and commercial premises. A building rated F or G could become obsolete and difficult to rent in the long term. Landlords must anticipate these constraints by improving insulation, optimizing heating systems and integrating more energy-efficient equipment. For tenant companies, the choice of an energy-efficient office becomes a strategic issue to control costs and limit their environmental impact.

The green lease, a tool for engaging lessors and lessees

To facilitate the ecological transition of buildings, commercial leases are increasingly incorporating environmental clauses. These "green leases" commit lessors and lessees to working together to improve the property's energy performance. These commitments may include setting up actions to monitor consumption, sharing the costs of energy improvement work or adopting eco-responsible practices.

A lever for more sustainable real estate

Under the French Climate and Resilience Act, companies must integrate the energy transition into their real estate strategy. Between renovation, optimization of consumption and new rental practices, the obligations are numerous, but also offer opportunities to rethink workspaces in a more sustainable and efficient way.

Proptech: how is technology revolutionizing commercial real estate?

Posted on March 30, 2024May 6, 2025 by damien

Proptech

how is technology revolutionizing commercial real estate?

March 30, 2024

Commercial real estate is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by new technologies.

From building management to workspace optimization, the " Proptech " (Property Technology) is redefining the way things are done, providing more flexible, sustainable and efficient solutions.

What innovations are transforming the sector, and how can companies take advantage of them?

Intelligent buildings for optimized management

The rise of intelligent buildings is enabling finer, more efficient management of workspaces. Thanks to IoT sensors and centralized management platforms, it is now possible to optimize lighting, temperature and energy consumption in real time. These technologies offer companies significant gains in terms of operating costs and occupant comfort.

Artificial intelligence for space optimization

AI plays a key role in rationalizing occupied space. Algorithms analyze office occupancy rates, anticipate the need for flex office needs, and adjust space layouts according to actual usage. By exploiting this data, companies can adapt their offices to new hybrid work modes, while reducing their real estate footprint.

A more transparent, digitalized real estate transaction

Buying and renting office space goes digital with the emergence of platforms proptech platforms offering virtual tours, electronic signatures and data-driven market analysis. These tools simplify and accelerate decision-making, giving companies greater visibility over their real estate strategy and greater transparency in negotiations.

A lever for more sustainable real estate

Technology proptech technologies are also contributing to the emergence of more responsible real estate. Building energy optimization, precise monitoring of carbon emissions and the integration of more sustainable materials are facilitated by dedicated digital tools. These solutions enable companies to reconcile economic performance with environmental commitments.

Author : damien