What was the design aesthetic behind the Essentia Environment’s office?
Clean, clutter-free functionality is always on top Of our minds especially so with shared spaces like corporate work environments. The aesthetic note for this space worked around that need too .. we continue our sensibility of less is more using a very limited selection of materials and continue the use of the same materials across all levels of the space
If you had to name the design style used, what would it be?
Calming
What were the inspirations and key concepts for the development of the project?
We wanted to make sure the office did but ended up looking like a portfolio or a space that could not feel cohesive from one end to the other. We are an organization that beloved in transparency of systems in our operations and equalizing opportunities for everyone – this reflects in the space physically and was the main inspiration
Explain briefly: spatial configuration and main reasons. How was it accomplished?
The space is a comfortable environment for 270 people spread over 30,000 Sq ft of carpet area ..with amazing high ceilings all over we also have some mezzanine areas overlooking the General floor image .. a combination of over 14 sitting meeting rooms and boardrooms and a few standing meetings areas for quick discussions the space seamless caters to our simultaneous need of meetings with multiple visitors/clients/suppliers and training sessions with ease, and visitors upto 60-90 at any given time can have access to such spaces and break out lounges, material libraries, cafés and restrooms
How have you taken care of the ergonomics?
With open and connected spaces I feel our office is an easy fitness space with clear walking spaces and access to various teams giving everyone a chance to not be seated only throughout the day .. So getting a good stretch and a walk along with seating and desks planned to suit the active body at all times helps .. numerous tests are done on not just the shape and dimensions of each piece of furniture in our test lab but also with raw materials that are conducive to an active shared space ..extending ergonomics to temperature control, non-allergen cleanable materials.
Detailed walkthrough
The arrival floor of the office is a garden-facing double-height foyer on the ground floor… with just a teaser of what the user or guest would experience before they step out of the elevators on the second floor of the building for the workspaces to begin.
With 14 different meeting rooms, a large waiting area, multiple senior management cabins, glass-enclosed shared cabins for teams who need physical privacy yet a visual
Connect, 2 large founders’ cabins with even an outdoor deck, open plan workstations for 250 plus staff, 2 lift lobbies, staff cafés, break out areas, archive rooms, material, libraries, and all…
Furniture and light fittings:
Every product, decor object, functional furniture, doors or even wall claddings in stone and veneer, metal .. each and everything that you see at the Essentia office and can touch and feel. Barring Glass Or goods made with glass have been designed and produced in the very building the office is. Let me share that the whole building runs Into 6 levels and is spread across a space of 1,50,000 Sq ft of production space.
We are unapologetic about leaning towards monotones and minimalism.
With the varied extremes of weather in Delhi you need a space that looks energizing yet calming, inspiring and dreamy yet ambitious all at the same time ..
So what better than blacks and whites and shades in between? With splashes of colour through art and fresh flowers, we are all happy throughout the year!
USP
Collaborative and wholesome space for all stakeholders of a design and build process being in the same building at times / just nourishes everyone’s desire to learn and improve and share and empathize and synergy all at the same time.
Please elaborate on the furniture/light fittings and other details in the studio
Furniture is all designed and manufactured in-house and all the pieces are genuinely a delight to behold. We wanted the office to be functional of course, but we also wanted it to be a reflection of our design ethos. Minimalistic, contemporary, earthy, yet vibrant. And of course, be welcoming to one and all. We were clear from day one that above all it needed to be a haven for our team and to be a home away from home for all of them.
And happily, we have managed to do just that. Light fittings are a combination of imported magnetic tracks and decorative lights strategically placed to enhance the overall ambience. Lighting design is a critical component for any project and even more so for an office space, so adequate lux levels have been maintained throughout. However, instead of maintaining a standard 300 lux level throughout we have varied it throughout and played with the shadows to further enhance the overall look and feel of the office.
We are one of the fastest growing organizations in our field and as such we needed to have the flexibility to accommodate an ever-growing team. This office is designed to accommodate up to twice the current number if need be. Moreover, the office houses teams with contradicting needs.
Teams that need to collaborate 24/7 to people who need absolute peace and quiet to function well, we have them all and yet the office works like a cohesive unit. It can simultaneously look like the lobby of a luxury resort, a museum holding priceless art pieces and also your favourite college cafe. This is the real creative challenge that we have managed to pull off with this office.