The Organic Parallel: An Oasis Defying Corporate Conformity

With its granite floors, sharp edged cubicles and modular workstations a corporate office is viewed as the stereotype of our fast paced, ever changing world. Among this chaos, we sought to create a workplace that incorporates tradition and nature, and above all, a feeling of serenity, hence defying the norms of conformity. The central idea for the design was based on creating a space that permitted maximum natural light to flood in, in order to enhance the atmosphere as well as to draw a relation with the outside world. The material palette chosen was that of natural materials which are contextually relevant to the region and also resonate with the organically oriented essence of the company. The indoor landscape pockets serve as a connection to its agrarian roots. The overall colour palette is monochrome with all walls and floors in rustic gray which creates a seamless look with inserts of wood. A rich green, taken from the company logo, is used to add a playfully welcoming pop of colour to the waiting lobby.

The large glass entrance door makes the office porous and inviting for visitors as they land in the reception area that boasts of rich wood, a material highly quintessential to Kashmiri interiors. The reception area is separated from the waiting lobby by a wooden screen. The large waiting area has ample seating and luxe feel with some feature walls to engage the visitors during waiting hours. One of the highlights in this zone is the world map wall, uniquely designed and crafted, which depicts the international and global standard of business the company is into. The central waiting area then branches out in four different directions leading to the executive cabins for directors, the service zone having restrooms and cafeteria for staff, and the server room and workstation area where different rooms are dedicated to various departments of the company. The layout of the office space clearly divides the different zones based on degree of publicness, such as the accounts section limited to access for outsiders and HR section conveniently located with a waiting area of its own.

The workstation zone has partition walls which have been designed in a way allowing employees to get natural light through the glass facade of the building while also brightening the corridor space. These glass partitions have added indoor landscape and fluted wooden members of varying lengths that break the monotony of the long corridor and engages people as they walk by.

There are a few huddle spaces for employees to sit and work informally. One such space connects the workstation area and reception as people move towards the workspace zone. The space is connected by a long wall with encouraging office graphics which display the ideologies and core principles of the company, forming another highlight of this office.

The seating in this huddle space is magnified by accompanying indoor landscape and a large glass wall that allows anyone from the lift lobby to view it and therefore creates an impact on everyone stepping out from the elevator, onto the floor.

The executive cabins are predominantly formal looking with solid wood flooring in a herringbone pattern with leather furniture, exuding the feel of luxury carefully harmonized with that of warmth.

The graphics on the walls of the cafeteria, with its witty puns and catchphrases, aim to brighten the atmosphere that one can share with work family replacing the conventional format of an office kitchen.

Overall this office can boast of a simpatico relationship between the outside world and the commercial one within its walls, as well as a unique environment with a special aura that instills a sense of calm in the world of corporate commotion, nurturing fresh ideas and zealous spirits.