Gregory Bateson, father of systems thinking, once said: “the map is not the territory.” And yet, without maps, we get lost. Even if it doesn’t coincide with reality, a map, by definition, is what allows us to read it, interpret it, and move within it with awareness. At Altis, our work is not just about designing aesthetically pleasing offices. It’s about building tools that help people navigate an increasingly complex space, made up of people, behaviours, rules, budgets, emotions…
“Consult–Design–Deliver”: the Altis step-by-step method. A method that doesn’t stop at “the project,” but accompanies the client from listening all the way to delivery, with one clear belief: if you truly want to transform a workplace, a rendering alone won’t cut it. You need intelligent, accessible, rigorous mapping.
Systems thinking: first understand how it works, then decide what to do
Every workplace is a living ecosystem. There is no such thing as isolated change: shift the layout and the flows will change; change the flows and behaviours will change; change behaviours and performance, costs and even company culture will shift. That’s the domino effect of contemporary work. That’s why we always begin with a systemic reading. Asking only “how many square metres do you need?” is reductive, epistemologically inaccurate, as Bateson himself might put it.
Phase 1: CONSULT — Observing the territory
The Consult phase is our exploration of the territory, where we gather data. Kick-off and Needs Analysis frame the challenges and opportunities. The Occupancy Study tells us who uses what, when, and how. With Rapid Prototyping, we test small-scale solutions to validate large-scale ones. And with the Building Analysis & Test-Fit we understand what is truly feasible, respecting every technical and regulatory constraint. It all converges into the Business Case, not the usual document, but a compass: it shows where it makes sense to invest, where to cut back, and how to distribute resources intelligently.
Phase 2: DESIGN — Drawing the map, shaping behaviours
Design is not about making a space “beautiful”: it’s about nudging desired behaviours. Concept Design translates values and objectives into concrete guidelines. Design Development refines those choices, while Technical Design makes them ready for construction. Furniture isn’t scenery: it’s a functional tool that guides everyday practices. In parallel, Progressive Budgeting makes the cost evolution transparent: no final shocks, just progressively measured choices. Finally, the Contract clearly defines agreements: budget, timing, responsibilities. At this point the map is ready, detailed and operational: not a utopia, but a working document balancing aesthetics, function, and economic sustainability.
Phase 3: DELIVER — From construction to people (with constant control)
Deliver is the phase where the map guides the building of the new territory. Here it’s not enough to “build well”: continuous monitoring and the ability to manage complexity are essential. Permits, procurement, safety, construction, move logistics: every step is tracked with progressive cost control, allowing immediate intervention in case of deviations. And then there’s the often-overlooked issue: Change Management. Because spaces don’t change anything if people don’t inhabit them differently. Communicating, guiding, listening: these are design levers just as much as a partition wall or a height-adjustable desk.
Does it work? The data says yes.
The Altis method works because it breaks the traditional “silo” model: consultants handing things over to designers, who hand them over to procurement, who then pass them on to the general contractor. Each handover wastes time, information, and control. We unify everything in an end-to-end process, where the data gathered during analysis remains alive until final delivery. The result is measurable: timelines reduced by up to 25%, budgets respected, fewer risks. But above all, projects that make sense not only on paper, but in the daily life of the people who inhabit them.
The Altis method was created to guide complexity: listening, shaping, testing, delivering. One step at a time, with people at the centre. If you want to see our map applied to your own territory, write to us at: [email protected]
