Astrix Office, Gurugram

Located at the foothills of the Aravallis, this quaint 1,200 SQ FT office has an uninterrupted view of the range.

The project was named ‘Sequoia’ as it means a soothing honey colour that is prevalent in the office. Sequoia can also thrive in extreme conditions that relate to the office being designed for adaptability during unpredictable Covid times.

The client’s brief to Envisage expressed the need for an office which transforms effortlessly based on strength of its users and change in function of its space. Equipped with the knowledge required to implement a dynamic design, the designers conceptualised two comprehensible office layouts, each with their own specifications. The varying sensibilities are executed in a singular space, crafting a design that is conducive to change.

The first office layout starts off at the passageway, where the entrance door opens to reveal a chic reception. The tonality of muted interiors with toned down colours is established here, anchored by the reception table which has the Astrix logo embossed in MDF, in a concrete finish. An interesting feature is the change in flooring from the lounge to the workstation area, that demarcates the change in functionality of the space. The workstation features herringbone patterned flooring in light grey, with the lounge having wooden planks in the same colour. The same muted colour is also introduced in the furniture through the use of cane.

The cabin and conference rooms retain their spaces in the second layout of this office, and hence are the only rooms in the office with false ceiling and fixed ceiling points. The rest of the office displays an exposed ceiling, finished with white paint to soften the appearance. A bare ceiling layout leaves more room to add, subtract and shift elements.

The data and electrical lines are set in place and concealed, factoring in electrical connections for both layouts of the space. The fixtures for a workspace of this nature are kept mid-ranged and easy to execute. With veneer on the reception’s back wall and laminate cladded furniture, a module is formed for quick implementation and designed to be leased out. The lights are strategically picked in a combination of high-end and mid-ranged, for their visual appeal and overall aesthetic.

With people returning to their workspaces, the design needs to make one feel the essence of a home while the worker transitions from home to office. Thus, the use of muted colours and the use of cane in multiple places was a way to get the right balance between a workspace and home.