Block Office by Adrian Chan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Competition Category.

IronInterior· 2021

Block Office

by Adrian Chan

Client: Adrian Chan Design and Research Office

A' Design Award Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #105901

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Block Office

Block is an office interior design covering 41 square meters. The office was created for a human resources advisory and training firm that needed a space for team meetings and training events. Low ceilings and a small area were the main challenges. Cabinetry is arranged as a series of floating functional blocks set along a gallery-like wall, following principles of the Prairie School style. The blocks hold functions such as food service and printing. The entry foyer serves as reception, huddle space, training room and cocktail area. Light oak, copper and Calacatta marble are used.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award

Block Office is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Block Office is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Block Office is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.

Image Analysis

Color Temperature: WarmSymmetry: PartialBackground: Top and Bottom

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The client, an HR advisory & training firm, needed an office that could communicate openness and could facilitate different interactions from team huddles to training events. The space, however, presented some challenges: low ceilings (7 ft 4) and a small enclosure (41sqm). Referencing the Prairie School, cabinetry are conceived as a series of floating functional blocks embedded along a gallery-like wall inviting the occupant to follow along. Other areas then allow for flexible programming whilst maximizing spatial efficiency.
Dimensions & Packaging: Total area 41 square meters
Ceiling height 7 ft 4 in
Tags: Office, Ceiling Height, Flexible Space, Prairie School, Cabinetry
Production Technology: Materiality leans towards warm, textural and light finishes, with abundant usage of light oak, copper and calacatta marble. Materials chosen have been vetted based on sustainability certifications.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was space-planning in a small area and executing a design that could satisfy the various occupant needs of the client.
Research: Thorough research was conducted to understand the business needs of the company. It was found that the office experienced fluctuations in occupancies due to working from home, itinerant workers/freelancers, and hosting of small to large scale events. As such, precedent research was conducted to derive spatial solutions that were relevant to each case/ occasion. Research was also conducted into historical styles where their principles could be applied where relevant.
Inspiration: The 19th C. architectural style Prairie School often featured horizontal bands of windows and lines that would direct one’s attention to the horizontal, de-emphasizing the ceiling height. The functional blocks in this project manifest this idea; they achieve the objective of expanding the space while each serving essential functions such as food and beverage, printing etc. Where office space is at a premium, functionality becomes architectural device and ornamentation.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2019 and finished in June 2019.
Operation Flow: The space allows for flexible programming whilst maximizing spatial efficiency and privacy where needed: The entry foyer doubles as a reception, huddle space, training room and cocktail area; the backroom serves as storage for folding chairs and a private relaxation pod.
Team Members: Adrian Chan, Tracy Lam