Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi by Adrian Chan

Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi by Adrian Chan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweNdawo yangaPhakathi kunye noMboniso Competition Category.

IntsimbiIngaphakathi· 2021

Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi

by Adrian Chan

Client: Adrian Chan Design and Research Office

Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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Colors

The Design

About Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi

I-Block luyilo lwangaphakathi kweofisi olugubungela iimitha ezingange-41 kwisikwere. Le ofisi yenzelwe inkampani yezobucwepheshe kunye noqeqesho lwabasebenzi eyayidinga indawo yeentlanganiso zeqela kunye neziganeko zoqeqesho. Iiceiling eziphantsi kunye nendawo encinci yaba yimingeni emikhulu. Iikhabhathi zicwangciswe njengocwangco lweeblocks eziphilisayo, ezimileyo, ezibekwe ngokulandelelana ecaleni kodonga olufana negalari, kulandelwa imigaqo yesitayile seSikolo saseNtla (Prairie School). Ezi blocks ziqulathe imisebenzi efana nokupha ukutya kunye nokushicilela. Igumbi lokungena lisebenza njengendawo yokwamkela iindwendwe, indawo yeengxoxo ezincinci, igumbi loqeqesho, kunye nendawo yeziselo. Kusetyenziswe umthi weOki omthube, ikopher, kunye nelitye leCalacatta marble.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award

Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo okunikwa imiyilo elungileyo eyanelisa iimfuno zobungcali neemveliso ezilindelekileyo kwimveliso ezicwangciswe kakuhle. Abaphumeleleyo beNtsimbi babonisa ubuchule obukhulu, ubuchule obuphezulu, ukuqonda kwengcali namandla okuyila abayili babo. Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi iyathenjwa ukuba ibe yimveliso exatyiswa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo neyinto entsha. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award udibanisa iindlela ezilungileyo kakhulu zemboleko kwaye unezimpawu zobuchwephesha ezifanelekileyo ezidityaniswe nolwazi netalente. Block Uyilo lweGumbi leOfisi iyahlonelwa ngenxa yenkcukacha yayo kwaye yacwangciselwa ukunika uphuculo lomgangatho wobomi olunceda ukwenza ihlabathi libe yindawo engcono.

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