Office Concept V6N1 | Workplace Interior Design and Modern Office Furniture

Clearly resembling its name, the Shamrock Table by Philipp Aduatz displays the very best in direct correlation of shapes. A further development of the designer’s Singularity Table, this expression of duplicity effectively bore fruition to an unequivocal statement centrepiece. Made out of glass fibre reinforced polymer and glass, the Shamrock Table proves its capability to illuminate space with its very own distinct charm. www.philippaduatz.com

The influence of geometry is evidently reflected in Sandra Hisbeque’s Sign lamp. When illuminated, the Sign creates a play of shadows and light with a surprising mirror effect. Made from anodized aluminium and lit with LEDs, the Sign draws a single and even line in a space that is pure and refined. www.sandrahisbeque.com

Intricately sculpted to perfection, Philipp Aduatz’ Drop Lamp descends as an eye-catching piece of art. The opulent drop-like structure is encased with symmetrically arranged openings in the outer hull seeking to alter and transform lighting effects in its space. What’s even more enthralling is the LED illumination that changes colours simply with a touch of a remote control! Feel free to pick your preferred lighting scheme to suit your every mood. www.philippaduatz.com

The XY by Sandra Hisbeque features a seat and coffee table in chrome. Inspired by the human genome, life and the connection between a man and a woman, the whimsical pairing of these sculptural masterpieces will not fall short of livening up any space. www.sandrahisbeque.com

Both innovation and sustainability have always been in the heart of Burosc by OASIS FURNITURE. Their continuous commitment in being ‘green’ is clearly the inspiration behind their latest range of office chairs, the Infinito Everywhere. With 96% of its materials recyclable, these inexpensive chairs also boast impeccable functionality and comfort - effectively minimising back pain with its customised contoured backrest. One can easily angle the chair to satisfaction where the lower back will enjoy maximum, total lumbar support.

There’s also a gentle sway in the movements of the Infinito Everywhere with its small and light structure, blending seamlessly into any work environment. This unique product can play host to short breaks in the pantry or any venue with great flexibility and movement. www.burosc.com

I’Pietra, the stone designed collection that is crafted through the brilliance of state-of-the-art digital printing technology, is set to shape flooring landscapes. Unveiled by Niro Granite, this flooring material is available in two sizes: 60cm x 60cm and 60cm x 30cm, with matt, lappato and structured surfaces. Designed to emulate the sheer beauty of nature, the refined stone design infuses elegance and poise into any interiors. www.nirogranite.com

Schneider Electric’s latest range of light switches, Pieno, features an uncluttered design with a distinctive jumbo dolly and an overall slim profile. Not only the Pieno fulfils in its unique design qualities, it also incorporates the innovative SS Mechanism which boasts a 3-degree short-throw switching angle that is only half of that of conventional rocker-type switches, lending Pieno its moniker the ‘Slim Rocker’.

What’s even more intriguing is the white-on-white locator, a light feature that blends with the switch’s surface. During the day, it may seem almost unnoticeable but with its soft glow in darkness, it lets one find the switch easily. www.schneider-electric.com.my

Inovar Luxury Vinyl Tiles aim to meet modern day flooring needs. It is designed to be extremently durable, less susceptible to scratches, stains, UV light and dents. This is thanks to a 0.5mm top wear-layer premium grade PVC. It also has improved capabilities in hum absorption and water resistant due to its PVC core layer.

Aside to hygiene and health protection, Inovar Luxury Vinyl Tiles are also accompanied by Nano Silver coating that curbs microbial bacterial growth. There’s no other complete flooring solution than one that combines resilience, health and hygiene. www.inovarfloor.com.my

Canon unveils its latest large format multifunction printer imagePROGRAF (iPF) series – iPF750, iPF760, iPF765, iPF820 and iPF825 to meet the unique needs of professionals in industries ranging from architecture, engineering and construction to government, education and retail. This robust machine can easily edit, scan and send computer-aided drawings (CAD) drawings in the office or even from remote field locations. Users can also easily scan and share technical drawings with handwritten annotations with relevant parties.

Designed for both technical and general purpose document management, these versatile imagePROGRAF large format MFP solutions address the diverse needs of applications ranging from technical CAD and geographic information systems (GIS) documents to marketing collaterals and learning aids. www.canon.com.my

Faithful to the time-honoured Japanese philosophy of Takumi – Fujitsu’s STYLISTIC Q702 stands for the very best in mobile connectivity.

This highly portable hybrid tablet offers users the ability to go places while staying connected, the capacity to stay strong while remaining lightweight and being secure even when out in the open. The STYLISTIC Q702 lets one work smarter any preferred way. The input of data can be done in three different ways - via the stylus, touch or keyboard. Fitted with a long battery life of up to 11.2 hours (with the keyboard dock), powered by Intel® Core™ i5 and a 11.6” widescreen that weighs approximately 850g, the STYLISTIC Q702 offers unmatched mobility to everyone on the go. www.fujitsu.com/sg

Set to take the world of portable data storage by storm, Toshiba has unveiled one of the world’s slimmest and smallest form factor external hard drives, the Canvio® Slim Portable Hard Drive. With a capacity of 500 GB1, the Canvio® Slim measures just 8.9mm in thickness as opposed to regular 2.5” external hard drives that measures over 13mm.

This slim and trim gadget packs a punch with high capacity storage encased in a sleek brushed aluminium design, available in black and silver. Backing up is now faster with its built-in USB 3.0 interface and made easier with its NTI® Backup Now EZ™ software that backs up your entire PC system including operating system, settings, programs and data. www.toshiba-asia.com

Dread lugging along that heavy and bulky projector for your next meeting? Fret not as the compact and lightweight Toshiba Portable LED Projector SDW30 is here to the rescue. Weighing in at just a mere 1.2kg, it runs on DLP technology and offers a superb brightness of 500 lumens that’s perfect for a small meeting room. Packed with stunning picture quality and wireless ready, the SDW30 is the perfect solution for business executives who are constantly on-the-go.

Thanks to LED technology, the SDW30 is lamp-free with a 20,000 hours light source life and incredibly low standby power and filter-free design. One not only save costs but also play a part in preserving Mother Nature as well. www.toshiba-asia.com

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Space Matrix has emerged as a one of the strongest players in the design industry globally, placing recently as the 23rd largest design firm in the world in terms of revenue, while commanding top 10 status among the world’s best workplace and office design firms.

The company has one of the strongest regional presences in Southeast Asia, and Bangkok has risen to prominence as the Singapore-based firm’s central hub for design excellence. Its Bangkok team has risen from just 6 when the Bangkok office was opened five years ago to a thriving stronghold of more than 100 creative talents today.

Thailand has proven to be a rich pool of design talent locally as well as an attractive destination for international designers who yearn to experience not only the exoticism of the country and the region but also getting numerous opportunities for career development in design.

Thailand now has a well-earned reputation as one of the most competitive centres of design and modern development, particularly in workplace, architecture and hospitality design.

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1. Open area office 2. Board room

Space Matrix Bangkok is now one of the region’s strongest workplace design hubs servicing millions of square feet of turnkey and design consultancy workplace projects within Southeast Asia, India and Australia. Bangkok is the home of the Space Matrix Design Excellence Center, which is a pool of the best international creative talents that produces concepts and creations in workplace and hospitality design for the company across the board.

The growth of the Bangkok office has facilitated a move from the firm’s humble offices in the Zuellig building in Silom Road to a very prestigious location in the financial district.

Space Matrix Bangkok now commands the entire 30th floor penthouse of the Bangkok City Tower. With breathtaking views of Bangkok, the 8m loft ceiling enabled the design team to create and build a fantastic metal mezzanine structure which overlooks the open offices.

This turned the 8,000 square foot space into a 12,000 sq foot double height space which allows for the aggressive expansion of the office to 125 in 2013.

Since the acquisition of the highly awarded hospitality design firm BLINK, which now shares the new Space Matrix Bangkok office, the collaboration between the workplace and the hospitality design teams has given rise to a new and reinvigorated design culture in the company with a strong influence of hospitality design in the way it approaches workplace design. This teamwork has proven a new and successful formula for the firm, not only in Bangkok but across its entire international operations.

With the firm’s philosophy of collaboration, the Bangkok team has been using a new model of “the influence of hospitality in workplace design”, with the new Bangkok office being its priority model project. The concept of the team was to highlight the beauty of the massive double height volume space of the penthouse and maximise the commanding views of Bangkok, by day and night.

By creating the steel mezzanine structure and retaining the high exposed ceilings, the team has successfully realized a ‘Manhattan boutique loft’ feel for its smart new space.

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1. Reception area 2. Breakout area

Entering the office’s dramatic reception, you immediately get the rush of being in an ultra modern boutique space as you are greeted by a sleek reception desk in black stone and textured resin. The back wall in black stone is highlighted with a video wall in a high polished stainless steel casing. This showcases animation of award winning works for both Space Matrix and BLINK. The floor is light engineered oak in a herringbone pattern giving the warmth and cosiness of a highend loft residence. The ceiling is a black metal mesh that imparts an industrial modern vibe.

Large glass partitions lend a more intimate feel to the open plan office space. The furniture is sleek and modern and inspired by hospitality design.

The reception leads on to the main meeting rooms which were created as a yin-yang design, bearing the balancing touches of workplace and hospitality design. On the right, the ‘Hong Sawang’, or ‘light room’ has a more formal corporate feel with light finishes. Its elegant white marble stone boardroom table, champagne mirrors and light veneered walls are at once sophisticated and corporate.

To the left is the ‘Hong Salua’ or ‘dark room’.

This room is the yang to the light room’s yin, and bears a much more ‘hospitality design’ influence.

In dark finishes, continuing the black metal mesh ceiling of the reception and having dark veneers and black magnetic boards making the space more relaxed. While the light room is used as a main library and training room, the dark room with its modular furniture can easily be transformed from a conference room to a training room, plus a superb event space for parties, supplier presentations, exhibitions, client meetings and town hall meetings.

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1. Grand staircase 2. Library 3. Reception area 4. Picnic table

Entering the main floor, one finds a ‘runway’ of brown carpet and set within a hallway of vertical batons of dark veneer. This leads to the grand open office space which immediately draws the eye upwards to the soaring ceiling by use of industrial pendants hung from platforms of painted beige. Main walls are left in raw concrete, which juxtaposes dramatically with the jet black carpet and the spectacular metal structure of the mezzanine itself. Underneath the staircase, a Zen garden with raked pebbles and carefully placed greenery exudes a sense of calm.

Breakout pantry and services areas are located within the main floor under the mezzanine structure in a more informal yet comfortably chic setting. Upon ascending to the mezzanine, the experience is heightened by the surprise splash of colour of an exposed red brick wall, kept from the original design in this space. Exposed diagonal large black metal L beams serve as support and suspension for the entire mezzanine floor, enhancing the Manhattan loft ambience.

This uber-cool suspended space is home to Space Matrix’s gurus of animation, the animation excellence center, renowned for taking 3D visuals and animations for the firm’s designs to another level within the industry. There is also a ‘design laboratory’; a casual meeting space used for collaboration and brainstorming by the design teams.

Space Matrix has once more expanded the horizon of what is possible with this stunning new penthouse loft space. Its buzzing hive of designing minds now has a fittingly chic, functional and talkof-the-town space to call home.

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1. Working space 2. Loft space 3. Mezzanine entry

The Park Ventures Ecoplex in Bangkok sought the perfect meeting space for a business world that now exists without borders. The design, therefore, had to be modern, warm and welcoming yet flexible enough for professional, multinational businesspeople to what it is they do best. The Space Matrix Victor Club concept took the organic shape of the space and provided an alternative look and feel to the meeting venue. An outdoor garden can be accessed from the meeting facility, while back inside you can find the most advanced audiovisual systems, wireless technology, LCD projectors, and Thailand’s first commercial Telepresence meeting room – all tucked away within the Victor Club’s environmentally friendly surrounds.

1 2 3 1. Executive lounge 2. Victor club 3. Victor 1

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4. Main entry 5. Conference room 6. Banquet room

After winning a successful pitch, Justin Young of Clifford Chance asked a number of companies to design an “updated, more modern look” to their new head office in Singapore, while staying within their Global Brand guidelines. Space Matrix’s solution was chosen because it provided more than was expected.

Space Matrix were fortunate enough to work with a very open-minded client who could see the value in creative design. They managed to introduce a Walnut timber which slightly steered away from the more traditional timber in their other offices, and helped them give a more up-to-date look.

With the reception and pantry being either side of the mains services core, the concept was all about “connecting” - connecting people and connecting the creative design, making this separation a “plus”. With two full-length Walnut veneer ceiling “runways” being a common detail in both of these areas, the concept was linked visually from the lift lobby. These ceiling runways were then repeated on the floor, with the central floor and ceiling areas finished white, enabling these perimeter areas to stand out.

Using the color blue from the Clifford Chance guidelines, three main meeting rooms in the reception essentially formed a glass box, with double-glazed glass frames concealed in the floor and ceiling, giving the visual effect that it was emerging from the floor and disappearing into the ceiling. Inside the meeting room were Acoustic Walnut-clad walls and a central Barrisol ceiling light feature.

Adjacent to the reception was the main board room with two smaller meeting rooms all divided by collapsible walls enabling maximum use of the space for all-hands meetings, presentations and entertainment functions. All of the rooms were equipped with projectors and flat-screen TVs with video conferencing capabilities.

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1. Reception 2. Breakout area 3. Main office 4. Library area

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1. Canteen view 1 2. Main board room view 1 3. Canteen view 2 4. Main board room view 2

The limited palette of Walnut veneer and blue filmed glass was continued through to the main office area where the frames to the glass perimeter lawyers’ offices were finished in Walnut veneer, with Walnut finished doors. A series of strategically placed break-out areas and a library were all contained with full-height blue glass screens with Walnut-clad walls, creating intimate private spaces.

The pantry area had a series of loose tables and chairs and booth seating by the window where a bamboo ceiling was introduced, along with orange-and-green finishes from their brand guidelines to give the space a more colorful feel.

The actual functional pantry had cupboards finished in black laminate with green back colored glass on the walls.

When Vestas Singapore - a branch of the Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S – presented an eight-week production timetable for their one-floor, 34,000-squarefoot office for more than 200 employees, the need was for a superior workplace embodying the parent company’s pure Scandinavian aesthetic. Space Matrix saw the need to keep the design philosophy simple – and to keep it driven by the phrases Honest, Truthful, and Natural.

That meant leaning on local adaptation and functionality, while adding textures such as raw concrete, timber and open ceilings to achieve the aesthetic which the design team had visualized at concept stage. Plants were integrated into this LEED Platinum workplace to assist in better internal air quality as well as visual relief, resulting in LEED Platinum CI status – the first time an office in Singapore had been rated so, and a honor which marks the office down as the third most sustainable facility globally.

Anurag Srivastava, CEO, Space Matrix, explained: “The Vestas project is a prime example of our commitment to world-class design and its role in creating productive environments that inspire today’s workforce. It also serves as a leading example of our internal design quality initiative ‘Design 5’, which speaks to our core design values: emotion, excellence, innovation, responsibility and value.”

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1. Pantry 2. Meeting room and main office 3. Library

SapientNitro’s role as Singapore’s leading integrated marketing, commerce and technology services firm required that the company’s new workplace fostered communication and collaboration, inspired creativity and enhanced Sapient’s branding and identity.

With a tight deadline set, the onus was on Space Matrix to choose equipment models with a shorter lead-time to ensure the system could be delivered on time. The solution was found in designing the office in such a way so as to allow all staff access to an abundance of natural light that fills the space.

There is a collaboration hub in the centre of space, containing a design centre, a VC room, meeting rooms, phone booths and utility area.

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1. Bar and entertainment area 2. Bar and entertainment area 3. Zen garden

The walls of the design centre are composed of operable acoustic glass for flexible use so the staff can transform this space into individual rooms, a combined larger room, or a town hall space at any time. Workspaces that promote collaboration are scattered throughout the office to inspire informal discussions, with writable wall surfaces that allow members to meet and chat anywhere they like, and functional AV systems nearby at all times.

And to infuse energy into the workplace, vibrant colors were used with Sapient’s brand and identity brought to life with their corporate color (Sapient red) and funky graphics.

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1. Townhall space 2. Cafe view 1 3. Cafe view 2 4. Reception and waiting area

BPTP has since 2003 evolved into one of northern India’s leading producers of high-end residential, commercial and hospitality properties. So, when looking to its new, six-floor, 175,000-square-foot corporate office in New Delhi – branded BPTP Crest – the company wanted a complex that served as a dramatic expression of its values and philosophy.

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1. Central atrium view 1 2. Central atrium view 2

For Space Matrix, the concept meant increasing collaboration between employees through design, and for the entire facility to be the physical manifestation of the company’s rapid growth. It was also important to infuse a sense of pride in the employees about the company they worked for.

To foster interaction through interconnectivity of floors as well as visual connectivity, a cut out was created from the 2nd to 6th floors, thus allowing this “void” to become part of one common space instead of getting divided into two separate floors.

Various options on the interventions in the void were then explored - various shapes, forms and functions – to make the space more dynamic. The project was honoured with the 2012 International Property Award for Best Office Interior in India, a reflection, according to BPTP chairman Kabul Chawla, of Space Matrix’s ability to understand “our existence and our philosophy and thereby create a memorable real estate experience.”

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1. Managing DIrector’s Private Dining Room 2. Managing Director’s Cabin

The award-winning Sterling Clubhouse project afforded Space Matrix an opportunity to explore the very meaning of modern community living in India. The concept took in the 27,000 sq. ft. (built-up area) clubhouse at Sterling Villa Grande – the top villa property in Whitefield, Bangalore, described as not only a parallel lifestyle but an experience of paradise itself. To that end, the club house-leisure centre would form the very heart of the villa development, integrated with an eco lake and its manicured gardens.

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1. Lounge off main atrium 2. Garden 3. Pool

The villa development’s vibrant, active community will now be served by such facilities as a fullyfledged gymnasium, spa, billiards and snooker, table tennis, bar, cafeteria, cigar lounge, guest rooms, full size swimming pool, and barbeque pavilions. As the clubhouse plot is surrounded by roads on three sides and water on the fourth, all the facades of the clubhouse are visible to the villa occupants ensuring the facility is the centre of attention – and of life in and around the villas.

Space Matrix’s concept was rewarded with the Cityscape Global Award in the Leisure and Tourism (future) Projects category. “We are delighted to have received this award. Given the advancements in community living in India, design in luxury residential properties is a critical element today and developers are riding on uniqueness and exclusivity to differentiate them from competition.

Working on this project has been a rewarding experience and we are glad that it has received international recognition,” Anup Naik, Space Matrix, said.

Sustainability is at the core of the Suzlon One Earth concept, in keeping with the work done by Suzlon Energy Ltd from its base in Pune, India. Spread across 10.4 acres – and encompassing corporate offices and the Suzlon Excellence Academy - the design called for four interconnected business function buildings each with a central well-designed lounge to facilitate movement towards the left and the right.

Space Matrix saw the challenge was in finding a final architectural plan that was flexible, yet ordered; serves vehicles, yet is pedestrian, is a work place, yet a garden; allows concentration, yet gives the wandering eye a chance to relax. Once achieved this would create a sustainable environment of its own - and a great place to work.

The One Earth Corporate Campus has been awarded the highest rating ever from the GRIHA (96/100) and it has also achieved the highest LEED Platinum rating (57/59) in the world. The campus recycles 100 per cent of the water it uses, and it generates 154 KW of energy on site through a combination of windmills (80 per cent), and photovoltaic panels (20%). The project was handed the 2012 International Property Award For Best Office Interior In India and the 2010 ACETECH Award For The Most Outstanding Project In The Commercial Sector.

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1. Waiting area in main reception hall 2. Green wall feature 3. Open office area

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1. Reception 2. Feature wall at reception 3. Cafeteria 4. Informal meeting areas

Expertise, rigor and discretion are the values that drive BMR Advisors, a professional consulting firm founded in 2004 and providing tax, risk and M&A advisory services to Fortune 500 companies as well as major Indian corporations. When it came to designing BMR’s new, one-floor, 45,000-squarefoot corporate office for 300 employees in Gurgaon, a booming satellite city of New Delhi, Space Matrix sought to address both client privacy and employee collegiality. The brief was to have high-end clientfacing areas with an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable open-plan work area to minimise the impact of the move. The nature of BMR’s business is such that they required a certain degree of privacy for their clients coming to the office. For this, enclosures at the reception/client-facing area were created with wooden lattice to maintain privacy and confidentiality while still allowing for some transparency. The meeting rooms and boardroom have all been planned together at one end of the reception, before the Access Control Area starts to prevent visitor movement in the work areas, as is the requirement of the nature of their business.

The passage leading up to the meeting area has a feature wall with raised letters that spell out the philosophy of BMR for the visitors and employees alike. Over the office now occupies a sophisticated, modern environment of Italian marble, granite, hardwood, textiles, carpet and fine furnishings.

Site-specific problems led to site-specific solutions for the new offices of Gartner Consulting Beijing Company Limited. Set over 30,000 sq ft, the project included building selection/feasibility studies, space planning, design concepts and implementation and project and cost management.

To cater for the needs of the company’s 120 employees, Gartner required an open office area, a casual collaboration area, a hot office, VC room, boardroom, meeting rooms, outdoor pantry and a breakout area. The building was fitted with a chilled-beam ceiling and under-floor airconditioning system for energy efficiency.

Moving or altering any piece of ceiling involved precise calculation of dimension, with any error affecting the entire air-conditioning system and so all the rooms needed to be designed in such as way so as to avoid having to make any alteration to the ceiling. As a spokesperson for Gartner explained, this proved to be the project’s stiffest hurdle as everything had to be kept under the ceiling line. “We were not able to secure the partition studs to the slabs the conventional way,” said the spokesperson. “We had to design a framework to contain the partition to ensure stability and proper installation and also to size out the room so that the rooms end nicely at the end of each piece of ceiling tile and not near the centre. But the work was worth it. Everyone loves the design, and it has been a hit globally.”

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1. Main boardroom 2. Discussion area 3. General office view 1 4. General office view 2 5. Collaboration area view 1 6. Collaboration area view 2

Leap Sustainability Design Consulting was formed almost two years ago from the in-house sustainability team within Space Matrix and another 10-person, India-based design consulting firm. Its founder and director Kevin Sullivan had been active in the green building movement in New York for almost 10 years before coming to India on a Fulbright fellowship and setting up his own green design consultancy in 2008. Leap’s Team of specialised architects and engineers share offices with Space Matrix in Singapore, Delhi and Bangalore and deliver sustainable design and green building services to projects across Asia.

DESIGN WITH RESPONSIBILITY All Space Matrix projects start with an essential green focus regardless of whether a client decides to go ahead with a formal green building certification. In fact, “design with responsibility” is one of the firm’s five core design principles.

Responsible design means not only meeting a client’s brief and budget but also doing it according to a well-defined environmental vision.

At Space Matrix, all projects go through an initial green design analysis to set the basic sustainable vision for the project and its specific green goals.

The Leap team supports the designers by setting a green building framework – either LEED or other rating systems - and a critical green path for the design team to follow. For an interiors project this may mean engaging with the company’s corporate social responsibility policy to see how its core values can be translated into the design. For example, transparency and openness is reinforced by maximising the use of natural daylight and glazed surfaces. Specific performance outcomes like lux levels and lighting controls are then established through computer modeling at the concept stage of the design.

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1. Suzlon One Earth Green Wall 2. Vestas Corridor

WINDS & WATERS OF PLACE “Green design starts with deep understanding of context, in both its natural and built form,” comments Leap Director, Kevin Sullivan. “Mother Nature is the master architect and we draw our inspiration from beauty and simplicity of natural systems. ” The Chinese design principle of Feng Shui, loosely translated as “winds and waters of a place”, takes architecture back to its essential origins in the natural elements. The Indian principle of Vaastu and sacred mandalas also trace their rules and patterns to cycles in nature. Designing with these elements is the theme for Space Matrix’s greenest projects for two of the world’s largest wind energy companies, India-based Suzlon and the Danish wind giant, Vestas. At Suzlon’s “One Earth” Campus in Pune, the design takes maximum advantage of the moderate climate of India’s western ghats to create a flow of indoor and outdoor spaces, and play of natural light in all parts of the building. For the Vestas corporate office in Singapore, the focus was more on the use of natural materials and materials with high recycled content and low-emitting properties. Both projects received the highest Platinum LEED rating from the United States Green Building Council. Vestas is the third highest-rated LEED commercial interior project in the world.

THE ART & SCIENCE OF SUSTAINABILITY The unique collaborative design approach between Space Matrix and Leap has produced award-winning interiors and architecture projects inspired both by art and science, evocative aesthetics and innovative engineering. The approach combines the breadth and diversity of Space Matrix’s design and planning experience with Leap’s mastery of environmental and building science and state-of-the-art computer modeling.

The result is design that lets people and the planet live better.

THE SPACE MATRIX DESIGN PROCESS

In every design firm, a certain culture is fostered by the company due to the mission and vision of the company’s founder or figureheads. Space Matrix is set apart from this ethos as the culture is based on a collaboration of not a selected group but by a set of values that have been nurtured in the past ten years by the founders and the succeeding Space Matrix members that we now call family.

These values are a set of design principles that guide each design member towards the aspiration of achieving excellence. These parameters are five simple words which inspire each design: Emotion, Value, Responsibility, Innovation, and Aesthetics.

Design excellence in the firm is purely achieved through the collaborative efforts of each sub unit within the Space Matrix group within various countries, and with the guidance of these design principles.

A prime example of this process was a key project which was recently completed in Hyderabad India which is a large campus of 240,000 square foot of renovated intricate existing piece for architecture which now turned into a beautiful modern workspace for almost a thousand.

The design and build project was a pitch that was won against numerous international design firms.

The edge that Space Matrix leant was the pitch was completely integrated piece of design by numerous teams and business units. The interiors were designed by the design excellence centre based in Bangkok with close collaboration with the workplace team in head office Singapore. The planning strategy was a collaboration with their network of multi-regional offices, harnessing talent where needed. Architecture was designed by the Bangalore architectural team. the partner sub

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companies of Space Matrix group also collaborated on the pitch with LEAP on the environmental strategies, SMAP on workplace planning strategies and finally QSigma doing cost engineering.

Starting off on a strong design concept which utilised the existing architectural features with had multiple exterior plazas and ampitheatres, the DEC conceptualised bringing the outdoors to integrate within the interior spaces. With four main floors, the interns team utilised four way finding colours for each floor. Then the Space Matrix graphics team went in to assist in doing environmental graphics collaboration with the clients graphics agency. The beauty of the design was achieved through multiple processes from exquisite interior sketches, to multiple 3D animations and walkthroughs generated by the Space Matrix animation excellence team based in Bangkok.

All in all the project became a labour of love which now is a source of pride not only to Space Matrix group but with the end users themselves.

This completely demonstrates the culture of collaborations of Space Matrix group and their aspirations to constantly achieving design excellence.

Design Excellence or DX is the biggest initiative of Space Matrix for the next five years bringing together a united design ethos using the Space Matrix parameters of Design Excellence. These DX parameters are five words that guide each and every designer on every design project towards achieving design excellence. There simple words are; Emotion, Value, Responsibility, Innovation and Aesthetics. With these DX Parameters, the Space Matrix family achieves a single united voice towards Design Excellence.

1 2 3 5 4 1. Reception sketch 2. Reception perspective 3. F aรงade perspective 4. Open office perspective 5. Atrium perspective

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For more than a decade, Space Matrix International has established themselves as one of the fastestgrowing, multi-disciplinary architectural and interior design firms in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since 2001, they have partnered with clients from around the world to create environments which inspire the audience, engage the user and have long-term value for all.

A core philosophy of “One team, One community” assigns Space Matrix’s members where their specific expertise is required, providing each client with the most appropriately resourced team. Keeping members focused on their growth and expertise brings a competitive edge to the marketplace while promoting the firm’s passion for excellence, invention and innovation.

The company has strategically advanced from their beginnings as a Singapore-based boutique design organisation to their current multinational network of 12 offices. Along the way they have expanded their services to include master planning, sustainable design, architecture and interior design across a range of project types

including: workplace, commercial, hospitality, retail, education, civic, transport, residential and mixed-use projects. With more than 500 members, Space Matrix are a young, energetic, and dynamic company led by strong management with diverse expertise.

At the heart of the Space Matrix operation is a complete range of services for the planning, design and delivery of interior environments. They offer services including strategy, optional design plans and costing, along with 3D visualisation and animation. Careful material selection ensures an innovative interior environment that accurately reflects the requirements, image, values and budget in order to represent each clients’ business and brand.

By combining design, project management, construction and technology teams in one place, Space Matrix ensures clients benefit from a single point of contact. This delivers coordinated high quality construction projects faster, at a competitive cost. They offer pre-construction services through to turnkey design and construction management.

Their aim is to exceed expectations, with a focus on delivering quality within the planned budget, improving cost performance and accelerating project delivery.

Technology is an essential part of everyday life. Space Matrix believes that technology should effectively enhance communication and operations, while integrating seamlessly with the build environment. Their dedicated team of professionals will put their expertise to good use, ensuring clients’ venues and systems are functional and effective through the successful integration of technology.

Space Matrix operates Design Excellence Centers in Bangkok and Singapore, tapping into the talents of their finest award-winning designers. Here they take the process of design from inspiration to reality, through sketching, material selection, and furniture selection in tune with their client’s needs.

This is a co-coordinated process facilitated with the help of digital 3D and animations.

Bangkok is also home to the firm’s Animation Excellence Centre, an in-house resource of talented visualisers and 3D animators who work concurrently with the team of interior designers and architects. Master Planning at Space Matrix is another collaborative effort with clients, partners and the community. The company creates planning and urban design visions for today’s development challenges, while also keeping future possibilities in mind.

Their strategic planning service assists clients to evaluate and reorganise space. By aligning space requirements to business objectives, they can help you achieve client goals. Space Matrix undertakes a detailed study of existing spaces, business requirements and the current market conditions before making a recommendation founded on solid understanding. Thorough analysis will take into account staff and management requirements, move versus stay options, costing analysis and inventory studies.

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1. Bangkok office Halloween Party 2. Singapore Dragon Boat Team 3. Singapore Cultural Day Celebration 4. Singapore Running Team 5. New Delhi Cricket Team 6. S ingapore Chinese New Year celebration 7. Singapore members at Cultural Day Celebration 8. Members from Singapore & Bangkok office at design event

www.spacematrix.com

SPACE MATRIX CORE VALUES: TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, & EXCELLENCE Space Matrix’s commitment to being a Great Place to Work is reflected through the day-today relationships their members experience. they strive to achieve their ideals of trust, pride and enjoyment through the company’s value of teamwork, integrity, and excellence.

Their members are part of a unique global team of design, technical and management professionals collaborating on diverse and complex projects that integrate architecture, cost consultancy, hospitality, sustainable design and workplace services. But life at Space Matrix is not all work.

Space Matrix members play some of the hottest sports in India, Singapore and Bangkok while art, architecture, cooking, photography keep them connected and part of a global multi-cultural family.

hagufta Anurag is among a new breed of interior designer - young, energetic, enterprising – who is not only holding her own, but getting ahead in the highly competitive Architect & Design game. Taking her belief that a workspace design should be a bold reflection of a company’s corporate culture and brand identity, Shagufta founded the Singapore-based Space Matrix in 2001 with the main mission of creating workspaces that “inspire an audience, engage the user and have long-term value.” Since then, the interior design firm has completed a long list of exemplary corporate, hospitality, building design and retail projects, and earned industry recognition, garnering awards for “Best Office Interior in India” and “Most Outstanding Project in the Commercial Sector.”

Q: Given the trend towards eco-conscious office designs, describe the underlying philosophy of the design work of Space Matrix as it relates to the environment.

A: At Space Matrix we believe less is more – in our approach to sustainability as well as aesthetics. Designs that conserve energy begin at the conceptual stage when we look to optimize the natural elements of daylight, air movement and materiality. We create visual and tactile connections between the flow of interior and exterior spaces, and between people and the environment around them. Site lines between workstations and the outdoors and access to operable windows give people a sense of the office as a place of openness and connectivity. It has been proven that people’s control over their working environments in terms of adjusting daylight and thermal comfort levels reduces stress and fatigue.

We take an integrated approach to designing passive daylight by harvesting elements and controlling active lighting, which reduces overall energy requirements. We seek to use natural and local materials, which have low embodied energy, as well as recycled and low-emitting products that are better for people and the planet.

Q: What was your favourite project in the commercial sector to work on? Why? A: I would rate the Suzlon One Earth as a favorite for its sheer challenge of size, complexity and ambition, set at the outset of the project and culminating in achieving all those goals in the face of various adversities.

The Suzlon One Earth is the unique corporate headquarters for one of Asia’s largest energy providers. The campus is spread over 10 acres of land in Pune, India. The idea for an office campus was conceived with the client’s need to bring all of its business sectors and corporate services under one roof. Although linked to each other, they are independent enough to operate in distinct office spaces that meet their respective needs and requirements. The campus is named “One Earth” as Suzlon’s business believes in caring for the Earth. It further highlights the earth’s unique existence as an eco system, signifies a unified view of the planet and reinforces the company’s belief that coexistence and responsible usage of natural resources is the only way to achieve sustainability.

Q: How would you describe your design style?

A: I could relate my style as being timeless and functional: A minimalistic and honest approach to design where scale, proportion and rhythm find a place in each of my creative pursuits.

The core value is to integrate this approach while designing for a particular client or project, where their distinct taste is always being reflected through conscious effort and a thorough understanding of the design brief.

Q: Which designer has been your biggest influence and inspiration?

A: There is no simple answer for this one. Throughout my career and early design school days, I’ve been influenced by my travels and daily experiences. These could have been through works of professionals as well as individual users, living and using spaces for day-to-day activities. A series of arches, a flight of rugged steps, the texture of a mossy wall are all clues stored away towards a bigger creative inspiration for me.

I’d like to believe that a single individual cannot encompass all the aspects of a great designer. For me, great designers are intuitive, inspirational, and practical yet poetic in their approach. They have a quality which leaves little to be said. They create experiences -visual, spatial or tactile -- for us to enjoy. I have strived to imbibe these aspects in my work, and the quest continues. >>

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing designers today?

A: Design is often considered a luxury and “designer” products are deemed unnecessary in a tight economy. Designers still struggle with convincing users of the “cost versus value proposition” for their solutions. However, a well-designed product doesn’t mean it is expensive.

Q: What do you consider to be your motto or design philosophy?

A: Any designer has to take their philosophical lessons from nature.

Designs in nature are true to their intent; they are enduring; and they capture all the requirements for their reason ‘to be’. There is no place for personal ego in nature’s design. If the being is not justified, then it loses its virility and disappears.

A well-designed space or piece of furniture is worth investing in, as it recovers its cost in the long run by being efficient and effective. Today sustainability and durability are synonymous with good design. We can no longer afford apathy towards our working and living environments. Rather than pandering to the older norm, it is the duty of today’s designers and architects to be responsible citizens and help educate and inculcate their learning to the upcoming generation of creatives and stakeholders.

My design philosophy is to be true to the Intent of the user rather than being fed by personal ego alone.

Q: As a female designer, what specific challenges, if any, have you encountered throughout your career?

A: I have come to believe that capability gets its due eventually, be it for a male or female designer. To go by personal experience, it’s been the contrary: I have only had support and encouragement from family and friends including the professional circles, be they partners or clients. Their encouragement has definitely fuelled my desire to succeed against all odds.

Q: Do you feel there is enough encouragement for women to enter a career in professional design?

A: Today, any industry allows its patriots the same milieu of circumstances. Individuals with an opportunistic outlook to take encouragement from the most unexpected of quarters and turn it into a positive impact to their professional growth.

I am happy to say that we have very good design talent within the firm who are women and have seen the same with the interns who choose to work with us. The challenges that they have experienced elsewhere only make them stronger.

Q: What do you like best about being a designer?

A: I value the capability to create and impact life’s experiences as well as the environment in a positive and constructive way. I approach any task at hand with the intent of making a contribution to the life and work experience of every user who comes in conversation with the space I design.

Q: What trends are most prevalent in office design today?

A: One of the most significant trends is that of determining the clients, requirement for their workspace. Clients now are ever aware that their offices have to be a dynamic as well as custommade for work processes to achieve efficiency and effectiveness.

We are beginning to see the narrowing divide between formal and informal work, a development which is directly impacting the quality of the built workspace.

A second equally significant trend seen is the importance of workspace adaptability to suit the user’s requirements, rather than where physical space dictating the work behaviour of the user.

Thirdly, technology is being integrated into the workspace as an active participant rather than a passive tool. Technology in the office is now as agile and intelligently intuitive as its user. It is transforming into a major contributor to workplace productivity and is seen in its next-gen phase on mobile hand-held devises within the

a very conscious change toward environmentally responsible design practices. This growth has been a tremendous leap, and I am looking forward to Asia being the leader in this movement.

Another change is the trend towards understanding the value of workplace strategy, where the requirement for spatial design is user derived. It is for and by the user, and is customised to the way these users work. User work culture, workflow and location define the values of consulting in the workplace – the value of who, what and why the design project is commissioned. Asia has consciously moved from a period where aesthetics was the driving parameter to the present, where a balance of various performance criteria is goal oriented.

office. The divide between technology being restrictive for work and its use for social aspects is a line that is almost obliterated. This, to be sure, has had a liberating impact on space design.

In my opinion these trends are here to stay.

Q: How do you define “good” design?

A: A good design is one that delivers its objective intent most efficiently and effectively while still being aesthetically uplifting.

Good design is not only about colours, but whether the space aesthetic contributes to its intent. ‘Good design’ has moved into the realm of ‘responsible design’. For instance: To what extent can a designer exert his/her influence on a range or spectrum of human behaviour and emotion? The more panoramic the approach, the ‘better’ the design.

Q: Talk about a recent project you completed. What was the concept, solution, location, highlights?

A: Vestas, a leading Danish firm, is a manufacturer, seller, installer, and service provider for wind turbines. In Singapore, Vestas’ brief to Space Matrix Design Consultants was clear. They wanted a sustainable workplace that is in line with their corporate objectives: green, clutter-free, innovative, collaborative, fun, and tech savvy.

This new office has recently been awarded the LEED Corporate Interior (CI) Platinum certification, the highest credentials issued by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to facilities that meet rigorous sustainability guidelines.

Until now, no other office in Singapore had previously received LEED CI Platinum status, thus making the Vestas office the greenest corporate interior in Singapore and, with an overall score of 93 points, the third most sustainable facility in the world.

Q: You’ve seen the Architect & Design industry in Asia change and evolve throughout your career. What has been the greatest change you’ve witnessed?

A: Asia’s embrace of green design in the past 5 years has seen

Space Matrix International Awards • Ranked #28 In Interior Design Magazine’s 2013 Top 100 Giants Survey • Ranked #36 In Interior Design Magazine’s 2012 Hospitality Giants Survey • Ranked #88 in the WA100 2013, the World’s Largest Architecture Practices • 2012 Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards (APIDA) Silver Award in Hotel Space for Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives • 2012 International Property Award Winner for Best Office Interior in India for Suzlon One Earth, Pune, India • 2012 Hospitality Design Award for Conrad, Sanya, China • 2011 International Property Award Winner for Best Office Interior in India for Suzlon One Earth, Pune, India • 2010 Acetech Award For The Most Outstanding Project in the Commercial Sector for Suzlon One Earth, Pune, India • 2010 CoreNet Global Innovators for T-Zed, Bangalore, India • 2010 CoreNet Global Sustainable Leadership Award in Design and Development for T-Zed, Bangalore, India

ith a growing momentum towards ergonomic diversity and upright work in the digital age, it is no surprise that 107 year-old Japanbased office furniture manufacturer, Kokuyo, has continued to be on the forefront in designing forwardlooking furniture. Adhering to a manufacturing ethos of melding the two important elements of people and design into a single entity, Kokuyo remains committed to delivering on quality products valued by everyone, a concept that can be traced to its founder’s philosophy of giving back to society. Since 2003, Kokuyo furniture products have won several highly-acclaimed international awards. In 2012, its MADRE couch garnered the Universal Design Award, an award that celebrates design concepts that make products, devices, surroundings and systems usable to as many people as possible.

Toru Hagiwara, the MD of Kokuyo Singapore, shares his philosophy to Office Concept readers and explains how the company’s products can be used to benefit people and make lasting impressions, especially in the 21st-century workplace.

Q: What is KOKUYO’s business mission and philosophy?

A: Kokuyo’s philosophy is “Being useful to the world through our products” while our mission is to “always innovate for knowledge” with the primary aim of bringing more creativity to our clients’ intellectual activities and space.

Q: What is KOKUYO’s place in the furniture industry overall?

A: In Japan, we are the leading office furniture manufacturer, and we are on a continuous quest of bringing quality products and innovations, particularly to burgeoning markets like China and India. Additionally, we aim to be on top of our game in Japan besides expanding our international footprint. In terms of our place in the global marketplace, I would say we are up there with several well-known American and European office furniture brands.

Q: Can you share any insights as to the direction the Southeast Asia office furniture is heading in the next 5 years?

A: I reckon the industry will continue to be on an upward trajectory in this part of the world, given that the American and Europe markets have yet to recover from the global financial crisis. Fortunately, with the economies of China, India and Asia remaining buoyant, I believe the purchasing power in the next 5 years will still come from the East.

Q: What trends are you paying attention in the office furniture market?

A: Office furniture has evolved in tandem with an increasingly sophisticated work environment. The office is now not just a place to work, but an incubator in generating ideas, and hence office furniture should be designed to make employees more interactive, collaborative and creative. For instance, an open-office environment would require furniture that facilitates face-to-face communication and personal interaction. In a fast-paced work environment, openness is the key to work efficiency and effective communication of ideas.

Q: How is technology changing to better integrate into the office?

A: Technology has always played a big part in our ever-changing lifestyle. New technologies and innovations have made our work place more lively and efficient. In my 15 years of experience in the office furniture industry, I have seen how telephones have evolved, from land phones, such as touch phones and rotary phones, to wireless phones with smart phones being all the rage. These days with WIFI being so pervasive, sales personnel no longer need to carry tons of catalogues to visit clients. Having a tablet will suffice. In other words, digital technology has freed people to work anywhere.

Hence going forward, a company’s office can no longer afford to layer on technology as an afterthought but must consciously accommodate that technology.

Q: What are the key drivers of the design concept for office furniture? What is the most challenging aspect of office furniture design?

A: Kokuyo product design philosophy is to combine the elements of people + design. We design products with a sole purpose in mind: to benefit the user. The most challenging aspect of office furniture design is to constantly improve our own mindset, upgrade our technology to meet the shifting demands of the workplace.

Efficient 21st century office furniture design doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of careful planning and informed decisions.

In essence, at the very heart of every piece of our furniture products is a smart solution that meets the needs of the most demanding office today and in the future.

a designer’s product. While admittedly, a lot of our great projects have yet to earn the green tag, nevertheless, Kokuyo’s design and manufacturing philosophy “People + Design” is a nod to our genuine commitment to the green movement and planet-friendly practices.

Q: Have you always been an advocate for sustainability? When did you first become aware of the importance of “green”?

A: Kokuyo has been around for 107 years. First I would daresay our company is sustainable. Throughout the history of Kokuyo, the company has been an advocate of the green movement. All of our products are designed and created in line with the 3R sustainability mantra of “reuse, recycle and reduce,” from delivery of the products Q: Is there a particular material that you enjoy in- to their use and, eventually, to the disposal of our products. corporating into your office furniture? Why? A: Air. I won’t say this is a material, but as it is a vital element for Q: What do you feel is the most important lesson human survival, we have incorporated it into our furniture to that the next generation of designers needs to improve the well-being of the user. Our AIRFORT and AIRGRACE learn about sustainability? office chairs are a good example where the element of air incor- A: I feel that if designers can come out with a design that does not porated into these products provides unparalleled support for the adversely affect but instead protects Mother Nature, this will be a fantastic achievement. I feel a good deal of emphasis should be spine and helps improve sitting posture. placed on finding substitute sustainable materials. Many years ago, Q: Given the length of time you have been in the office we witnessed how laminate and PVC emerge as a replacement matefurniture business, and have witnessed the sector rial. If the future designers could give more attention to creating change and evolve, what would you consider to be new furniture based on this, I think this can lead to a new wave of office furniture. the greatest change so far?

A: I would think that office layout, setting, function and design have undergone extensive transformation from a generation ago. By all www.kokuyo.com accounts, the furniture of today has come a long way. From bulky, heavy-looking furniture to the current clean and contemporary designs that come equipped with sophisticated mechanisms and functions. Not too long ago, office furniture was designed to accommodate the notion of spending long hours each day sitAWARD WINNING PRODUCTS ting in front of a computer. But with accumulating research on the health hazards of sitting for long stretches, a process is under way, 2003 - AGATA /S, AGATA /V addressing what might be called the sitting crisis. The results have IF Product Design Award been workstations that allow digitally-savvy workers to stand, even walk, while toiling at a keyboard, hence creating higher productivity 2004 - ARTIS and efficiency at the workplace!

IF Product Design Award Q: What advice would you give to furniture design students or anyone starting out in the field?

A: I would say, an effective designer has to think out of the box.

Furniture is not just furniture anymore. As far as possible, the furniture of the 21st century should be something that is appreciated by people, is beneficial to its user and has a design that is timeless.

Q: What, in your opinion, is the definition of sustainability to designers today? Does the term go beyond simply being green and utilising eco-friendly materials in design projects?

A: With an increasing emphasis on green and eco-friendly practices and solutions, being sustainable will certainly add value to

2005 - AGATA/D, ALINA/C IF Product Design Award 2009 - AGATA/D, EPIPHY IF Product Design Award 2010 - AVIEN, AMOS IF Product Design Award 2012 - MADRE Universal Design Award

Parcs – Designed by Pearson Lloyd for Bene ARCS is a new concept in office design and interior architecture. It is a unique furniture programme able to create an inspiring work environment that promotes spontaneous exchange, personal encounters and team work. The PARCS elements are designed to work individually and collectively to create areas for group collaboration and individual privacy, whilst also fulfilling ergonomic requirements and media integration.

“Most managers think that if you are away from your desk, you’re not working. It needs progressiveness to recognise that someone who sits on a sofa can still be creating value for the company.” Tom Lloyd of PearsonLloyd PARCS creates zones in an office that enhance the productivity and the well-being of a company’s employees by facilitating various ways of working such as meeting, presenting, learning, brainstorming, focusing, reading or touch-down. By providing this type of multifunctional working environment, clients tell us that PARCS enhances communication and cooperation as well as contemplation and concentration, “We don’t consider PARCS to be a predefined product but rather something that evolves along with changing technologies.” Luke Pearson of PearsonLloyd PARCS is perfectly suited to Bene’s philosophy of ‘me’ and ‘we’ places for ‘smart working’.

We-Places are designed for communal activities. These areas include meeting and conference rooms as well as receptions, cafeterias and lounges. Usually located in traditional central zones, these are areas for spontaneous collaboration, stand-up meetings, and presentation spaces, plus workshops and discussions in small, informal settings. They are not only accessible to all permanent and temporary office users, but also to visitors and guests.

Me-Place zones offer space for concentrated work and privacy - primarily in an open office. These spaces include areas such as Touch Downs for temporary workers or visitors, think tanks, libraries and recreation zones. Undisturbed, focused work is promoted through the enhanced sound insulation these areas provide.

The range boasts open structures and spatial flexibility, and is inspiring, diverse and multifaceted. Smart Working means: Employees don’t just work at their own desks, but also at shifting locations inside and outside the office: The concept is to choose the place you need.

Bene divides the office into Workplaces for classic workstations, We-Places for communication and cooperation and Me-Places for focused solo work or recreation. The concept promotes creativity and innovation by providing versatile places for communication, cooperation, concentration and. The office becomes a living space, divided into a variety of zones and areas, similar to an urban landscape — perfectly tuned in to the specific work processes and day-to-day requirements of workers.

Bene: Knowledge Leader in New Ways of Working Founded in 1790, Bene started to manufacture office furniture on an industrial level in 1951 and has been the undisputed market leader in Austria since the early 1970’s.

The Bene Group now has and with 85 points of sale in 35 countries and over 1,340 employees worldwide. 2012 has seen a rapid growth of Bene in the Asia Pacific market with showrooms opening in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney and Melbourne, with Beijing and Brisbane to follow this year and a relocation and expansion of the Singapore showroom.

Together with customers and partners, Bene develops innovative office solutions that present workflow, culture and corporate identity spatially.

Bene believes that there is a clear connection between the design of working environments and the success of a company. By combining over 200 years’ experience of product manufacture together with ongoing research into new ways of working, Bene has become a knowledge leader in ‘Smart Working’ and can provide a strategic tool for clients to retain and attract staff as well as drive efficiencies, productivity and collaboration in the workplace. www.bene.com

Lithoss European designed switches: • Are available in a wide variety of finishes • Have garnered three prestigious design awards • Can be customised to fit the interior space • Undergo a meticulous production process • Are all finished by hand • Can be engraved to ensure each cover plate is unique

t is indeed rare to find a design for a cover plate which can be as tightly integrated into any interior as the Lithoss range of switches and sockets. Handmade to perfection, its clean, sober and simplistic design aims to become part of any interiors, resulting in a balanced environment. In addition to aesthetics, Lithoss also carefully considered the aspect of user experience. The switch mechanism is designed to allow just a gentle touch of ‘clicking’ to power up. Easily mounted on walls or flush mounted, these award-winning products from Belgium cater to a wide range of audience.

SELECT - Choose from the timeless classics.

SELECT stands for the well-known traditional, designer Lithoss switches. These high-end designer switches which are handmade after the machine process, are produced in exclusive finishes such as stainless steel, Zincor, Zamac, brass, etc.

IMMIX - Imagine and Mix. With the IMMIX collection, Lithoss offers designer switches that are adaptable to various preferences. With more than 50,000 possible combinations, modern day interiors can be easily personalised and fitted to character. These combinations are made possible with the high end finishes available in the SELECT range. One can choose the finishing of the frame and button(s) and combine it with a second finish for the cover plate. This way, customers can easily create his or her very own premium switches. Possible combinations include white and chrome, stainless steel and fusain or black and white.

ILLUME – Brings your vivid imagination to light.

ILLUME is Lithoss’ latest product range to hit the market. This innovative range combines functions, switch, technology and lighting all in one element. It features a frame that diffuses light in all four sides, creating and influencing ambience. Its ability to “glow in the dark” offers specific themes for each room, be it bright white, intense red, warm orange or powerful blue. www.lithoss.com

ver the course of the last decade, various world-class design shows have evidenced manufacturers are responding to the needs of business. There’s an increasing demand in new innovative, practical and stylish product designs. With the variety of materials and new technology now available to designers, this has opened doors to more vibrant options and ideas. However, innovation is frequently limited to applying new methods and materials to already existing products.

Reflecting his original approach, Gerbi recently designed – or rather, invented - a contemporary shelving system named the Ray Shelf, a design concept that is simple yet utterly unique. The standard boards, which traditionally form a shelf, are replaced by rows of metal bars. They are then inserted between wall-mounted, perforated, steel bracket supports of various shapes and colours. Rather than limiting the appearance of the brackets, usually the case with shelving design; these supports are exposed and celebrated in much fanfare, transforming them into a key feature of the shelving system.

Endlessly adaptable and versatile, the Ray Shelf can be configured in whatever combination the user desires, to suit specific needs, spaces and aesthetic tastes. The wide range of colours available makes it relevant to almost any environment. For example, businesses engaged in traditional pursuits like law or finance might opt for a classic, sophisticated look, in which the Oyster and Chestnut hues would harmonise beautifully. In contrast, businesses with a creative or contemporary focus might instead choose a more vibrant composition.

The many installation options of the Ray Shelf also make it relevant to any space. Be it accenting a blank canvas of an office, forming a creative storage solution, or doubling up as a fully interactive and customisable art installation for reception halls or boardrooms, the Ray Shelf value adds.

Crafted from metal, the Ray Shelf is both sturdy and durable, yet carefully designed to be incredibly lightweight and easy to install. In terms of enhancing the image of a business, innovative designs like the Ray Shelf can certainly play a part, as well as in the more usual functions of storage, display and organisation.

As Gerbi always says, it is all in the details. www.rayshelf.matteogerbi.com

ince time in memorial, the Land of the Rising Sun has been inspiring and pioneering exceptional design and high quality products. Be it fashion or automobiles, sanitary ware or kitchen utensils, design aficionados all over the globe are left in awe almost every single time they come into contact with these sometimes whimsical yet innovative product offerings. Their attention to detail, robust vision and intricate detailing remain the key pillars of product creativity.

True to form, many were found to be both excited and impressed with Kokuyo’s latest Epiphy range of flip top tables. Designed predominantly for elegance and ease of use, the flowing curves and graceful design is testament as to why the Epiphy is the preferred choice for training, meetings and conferences. All components have their own distinct design and as a result, this elegant flip top Top: Modern workplaces are now custom-fit with office furniture which not table has successfully garnered design accolades including the IF only are aesthetically appealing, it must also incorporate functionality and Award and Good Design Award. ergonomics.

Evoking timeless-ness and championing aesthetics are not only its main focuses. The Epiphy is also carefully developed to apply ergonomic principles, aimed at preventing a variety of conditions such as back pain and carpal tunnel. When designing the Epiphy, KokuyO was careful to not ignore the functional aspects as well.

Working suitably best in training rooms, the Epiphy can be easily reconfigured for group work with each table easily usable for various activities.

Key features of the Epiphy: • Large easy-to-hold handles to ensure reliability and it is easy to operate.

• Large wiring duct for proper cable management.

• Large diameter castors and a levelling function (up to 10mm) enable stable placement and easy portability, even on uneven floors.

• Stackable for efficient storage • Safe and secure operation - the unique opening mechanism prevents the possibility of trapped fingers. www.kokuyo.com

About KOKUYO Established in 1905, Kokuyo has been in the business of producing products that considers the users’ point of view. To-date, it’s making significant contribution to the growth of Japan’s economy by delivering a wide variety of products ranging from office furniture to stationery items to its global customers.

he look of today’s modern office often mirrors the company’s business aspirations. Industry leaders have also come to realise that employees work flow plays pivotal role in deciding how an office will eventually look and function. Global researches have shown that a well-designed and planned workspace greatly impacts productivity levels. By allowing a conducive workspace, employees able to work comfortably, communicate with ease and think out of box. These workspace are designed to create a sense of belonging.

TOP: When designed to criteria, workspaces can create a sense of belonging amongst employees.

Seeing the Value of Personal Work Space Leading corporate interior designers affirms the fact that, a stylish office induces great sense of importance and valued among the workforce. The trend of having employees involved in the design and built process are becoming a popular practise.

Designers would interact directly with end users to understand better workspace movement and daily work flow thus crafting an ideal personal workspace.

The understanding of personal work space is an essential step, where during the selection for office furniture it must be able to meet the functional needs for the end user. Malaysian-based leading manufacturer and exporter of office system furniture, Versalink have been in the industry for the past three decades understands well the value of personal work space. In recent years, the company has been collaborating with Italian designers to develop a wide range of office system solutions and recently unveiled the latest desking series ‘SOLO’ predominately catering to the needs of the user.

SOLO’s look derived from sheer lines, a reflection of minimalism which expresses futuristic opinion in defining modern office furniture. This range of office furniture is revolutionary, yet versatile to complement a variety of design concepts. The sleek look of SOLO office system is an enabler in projecting professional disposition with great functionality.

Designed with the User in Mind The worktop for SOLO comes in various configuration and sizes to fit any user’s requirements from rectangular, L-shape with curve, piano-shaped and also 120 degrees formation. The worktop is made of 25mm thickness laminated particle board, commonly known as melamine faced-chipboard (MFC) which meets the ROHS Directive 2002/95/EC standards. This material comes in many colours with a smooth working surface. As a comprehensive office system, SOLO able to provide configurations from single table setup to a multi-user desk workstation. With complementing add-ons such as cable management system, cabinet units, desk and stationary accessories, this stretches the same system into an array of options for the needs of the users. Messy phone lines, data and electrical cables can be neatly organized in a concealed slim box for a clutter free looking office. With accessory rails fitted in, stationary accessories including trays, pen and phone holders can be easily fixed in facilitating a user-friendly yet organized workspace.

As organization continues to evolve, it also contours the transformation of workspace.

With this in the basis of design, Versalink has a proven credential in manufacturing, distribution and export of office system furniture. Committed and recognised for high quality furniture, design and workmanship, Versalink aims to continuously improve through the blend of better production techniques, supply chain, customer service, environmental responsibility and design innovation. www.versalink.com

MALAYSIA (MYR)

SINGAPORE (SGD) / BRUNEI (BND)

69

THAILAND (THB)

49

300,000

990

45

PERSONAL PROFILE AGE GROUP

21 - 25

26 - 30

31 - 35

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Diploma

Degree

Others

OCCUPATION

Executive

Manager

General Manager

36 - 40

41 - 45

46 - 50

Director / MD

CEO / COO / Chairman

Others

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51 & above

The Melting Chair, by Vienna-based designer Philipp Aduatz does possess the qualities of a show-stopper. At one glance, it may seem (to most of us) like an illusion with its sleek metallic mirror finish. But, the reality is that many interior designers around the world would love to have this piece of art grace their spaces. A grand statement it must make, but let’s take a peek into the great mind that brought this magical piece of art to life.

Moulding the Melting Chair Aduatz´ intention in the design of the Melting Chair was to capture the transient transformation that takes place within a sculptural object. One might see it as a solid chair melting away or as a solidification of liquid melt. This visual paradox is indeed the crux of it all. In his thought process, Aduatz’curiosity was pique by materials, whether solid, fluid or gaseous going through phase transitions. It is this moment of change that seems utterly fragile that fascinated Aduatz.

He set his aim to capture this fleeting moment and to transform it into a usable object.

To create a realistic illusion, Aduatz studied the solidification of fluids as well as the melting of solids using modern 3D animation software. With this background, he designed the surface of the object down to the smallest detail - like an architect planning a huge skyscraper. The final object is made out of a fibre glass reinforced polymer, a light and strong composite material that is very durable. The surface is coated with a special mirror coating for a metallic appearance. A special clear lacquer is used to protect the mirror coating from aging and makes the surface of the Melting Chair scratch resistant. www.philippaduatz.com