Zuellig Pharma Headquarters by Bloom Architecture: Adaptive Reuse of an Industrial Warehouse in Phnom Penh

The transformation of the Zuellig Pharma Headquarters by Bloom Architecture demonstrates how adaptive reuse can reimagine industrial infrastructure into a dynamic and inspiring workplace. Located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the 1,500-square-meter project repurposes an existing warehouse into a modern headquarters, balancing spatial efficiency, environmental performance, and architectural identity. Completed in 2023, the project reflects Bloom Architecture’s continued exploration of sustainable renovation strategies within Southeast Asia’s evolving urban landscape.

Originally designed for storage and distribution, the warehouse presented a rigid structural framework that challenged conventional office design. Rather than treating the abandoned structure as a blank canvas, the architects embraced its constraints, allowing the existing building logic to guide the transformation. This approach ensured material efficiency, reduced construction waste, and preserved the industrial character embedded in the building’s original form.

Adaptive Reuse as a Sustainable Design Strategy

Bloom Architecture’s experience with large-scale industrial conversions, notably Factory Phnom Penh, informed the conceptual direction of the Zuellig Pharma Headquarters. The client’s decision to reuse their former warehouse aligned with principles of circular construction and sustainable architecture. Retaining the building in its central urban location minimized the environmental impact associated with demolition and new construction, while reinforcing a strong corporate narrative rooted in place and continuity.

By working with the original structure rather than against it, the project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can generate unique spatial qualities that are often absent in conventional office developments. The design prioritizes longevity, flexibility, and environmental responsiveness, ensuring the building can evolve alongside future workplace needs.

Reinterpreting the Garden Atrium Concept

The client’s initial vision centered around a garden atrium functioning as a social heart and internal sanctuary. While conceptually compelling, inserting a traditional atrium would have conflicted with the warehouse’s structural logic. Bloom Architecture responded by reinterpreting the idea, inverting the spatial organization to better align with the existing framework.

Instead of placing greenery at the core, a flexible, landscaped buffer zone wraps around the central office workspace. This peripheral social space functions as a naturally ventilated transitional zone, mediating between the air-conditioned interior and the external urban environment. The strategy maintains the spirit of the original concept while reinforcing the principles of adaptive reuse and climate-responsive design.

Climate-Responsive Office Design and Natural Ventilation

The surrounding green buffer plays a critical role in the building’s environmental performance. Measuring approximately three to four meters in width, it mitigates heat gain, reduces noise, and allows the lengthwise façades to fully open. This intervention introduces abundant daylight and cross-ventilation into what was previously a sealed industrial shell.

By placing the conditioned workspace at the center, the design creates a stable, comfortable interior climate while significantly reducing reliance on mechanical systems. This passive design strategy reflects Bloom Architecture’s broader commitment to sustainable office architecture suited to tropical climates.

Celebrating the Scale of the Warehouse Interior

At the heart of the project lies an expansive open-plan office that celebrates the original warehouse proportions. The column-free 25 by 60 meter span and eight-meter-high ceilings preserve the sense of volume and openness intrinsic to the building’s industrial past. Rather than subdividing the space excessively, the design allows for collective work environments complemented by quieter zones and informal social areas located within the surrounding buffer.

This spatial configuration supports collaboration, flexibility, and employee well-being while maintaining visual continuity throughout the headquarters. The juxtaposition of raw industrial elements with refined interior finishes reinforces the identity of the building as both a functional workplace and an architectural statement.

A Second Life for an Industrial Structure

The Zuellig Pharma Headquarters stands as a compelling example of how abandoned industrial buildings can be reactivated through thoughtful architectural intervention. By reversing conventional spatial hierarchies and embracing the constraints of the existing structure, Bloom Architecture unlocked new possibilities for workplace design.

The project illustrates how adaptive reuse, when guided by sustainability, climate responsiveness, and contextual sensitivity, can transform obsolete infrastructure into productive, inspiring environments. The warehouse’s second life as a contemporary office not only serves the needs of its occupants but also contributes to Phnom Penh’s evolving architectural narrative.

All photographs are works of  Robert Kleiner