The redevelopment of Red Bull South Africa’s national headquarters in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront transformed the energy drink brand’s existing office into a dynamic workplace that merges global brand identity with the spirit of the city.

When Red Bull South Africa was offered the possibility of taking over the floor above its existing two-floor office to occupy the whole Waterfront South Wing building over three levels, it created an opportunity to comprehensively reimagine the design of the office.

Red Bull awarded turnkey project managers Exéc Innovative Solutions the contract for the fit-out, and Boogertman + Partners was appointed as project architect.

We took design cues not only from the office’s natural and urban surroundings, but also from the activities that Red Bull “give wings” to in and around the city, including extreme sports, music, gaming and youth culture. The character of the space is also informed by Red Bull’s energetic and adventurous spirit, carefully balanced with the need for efficiency and professionalism.

Perhaps the most radically transformative spatial alteration involved opening up a new triple-volume atrium, creating a powerful central space flooded with natural light. A sweeping staircase installed by the V&A Waterfront connects all three levels.

Vertically mounted against a feature wall in this void is the Red Bull Formula 1 racing car once driven by four-time world champion Max Verstappen – an icon of performance and brand legacy.

We took a thematic approach, intertwining landscape, sport and culture into a spatial narrative. Each level is associated with a layer of Cape Town’s geography (ground, horizon, sky) corresponding with a selection of Red Bull’s signature activities, from kite-surfing and trail running to acrobatic flying and Flugtag (Red Bull’s iconic DIY flying-machine challenge).

The sculptural timber reception counter at the entrance introduces a material palette rooted in the city’s coastline and geology, with muted tones and neutral finishes creating a warm and tactile arrival sequence. Across all levels, organic forms, warm natural materials and carefully tuned lighting create a cohesive spatial language. The fluidity of movement associated with many local sports and the natural forces (such as wind and waves) that enable them prompted organic, flowing lines that define the overall look and feel of the design approach.

The ground floor includes meeting rooms and training spaces, informal lounges, open discussion areas and collaborative pods. These spaces incorporate greenery, soft seating and playful brand artefacts, including an iconic Red Bull-branded motorcycle and side car. Local cultural elements are celebrated through Afrocentric patterns and textures in “The Kraal” meeting area.

The middle floor celebrates the horizon line and Cape Town’s aerial and coastal energy, referencing Blouberg’s kite-surfing culture and the dynamism of Red Bull’s King of the Air, the world’s premier big-air kiteboarding competition.

This level forms the social heart of the office during and after work hours. The “Flight Deck”, a multifunctional bar, stage and event space, hosts everything from town-hall meetings to DJ sets and sports broadcasts. A racing simulator nods to the brand’s motorsport heritage, while curated brand memorabilia punctuates the circulation spaces.

The top floor represents the sky, drawing on the altitude of the trail-running culture associated with Lion’s Head and aerial sports such as aerobatic flying. The design shifts into a cleaner, quieter visual language: reflective surfaces evoke water and light, while matte textures provide calm contrast.

By grounding the workplace interior in Cape Town’s physical and cultural terrain – and celebrating South African athletes and achievements – Red Bull South Africa’s transformed national office embodies and enables Red Bull’s philosophy of “giving wings” to people and ideas. The result is not only a revitalised workplace but a three-dimensional brand experience.