Confidential Manufacturing Client

Office Design & Build

Cosy Cool: Balancing Heritage and Innovation in a Productive Open-Plan Office

About the Project

Industry

Manufacturing

Project Type

Office Renovation

Project Scope

Design & Build

Location

Alexandra Technopark, Singapore

Year

2021

Size

7,255 sq ft

Our confidential client, a leading global manufacturing company in domestic appliances, looked to set up an office in Singapore to house its product innovation and development teams. Taking inspiration from the company's 140-year history and its commitment to innovation, we drew on classic influences and timeless materials to design a progressive office space with open-plan communication and connection at its core.

Entering the space, visitors are greeted with a welcoming reception that is inspired by a home setting. The clean, linear forms of the furniture and fittings are offset by organic materials, muted colours and gentle lighting to create a cosy yet functional environment that doubles as a product showcase. Aside this space lies the boardroom and work desks in an open-plan layout, ensuring easy communication and connection between staff, while also supporting the company's innovative culture.

Open-Plan Innovation

Taking the irregular-shaped space as an opportunity to create an interesting and productive working environment, we divided the office into two zones delineated with a very different materiality: a light and airy working zone, and a more intimate front-of-house zone with meeting spaces and a pantry to recharge.

The result is an open floorplan which maintains the spaciousness of the office. To differentiate the spaces between the pantry and workstations, a subtle but effective partition is created by the pantry bench, a statement further made by the contrast in the warm vinyl flooring, versus the grey carpeting which also helps with acoustic absorption. This layout also ensures natural light is shared between the pantry and workstations.

Productivity-Driven Design

Enclosed private offices and smaller meeting rooms are built in glass along one length of the space, maintaining the expansive, open feel of the office. Located at the end of the workstations is the product development lab where our client’s latest models are engineered, framed in bold red as a nod to the company's focus on innovation.

Biophilic design principles have also been incorporated into the space, complementing the warm and woody elements introduced at the entrance, flowing throughout the pantry, and creating a comforting and welcoming mood.