Adrian Chan · CLIENT: Adrian Chan Design and Research 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.
Press Kit
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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