Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood (SCMC) Office, Abu Dhabi

Interior design and architecture studio ROAR in partnership with Summertown Interiors has designed the Abu Dhabi offices  The Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood (SCMC), an organisation that aims to promote welfare and development for all mothers and children in the region.

Spanning across three levels, the environment needed to be welcoming and purposeful for both adults and children, and accommodate SCMC’s current team and future expansion. The ground floor includes a reception area, an exhibition space, an auditorium with mezzanine level, a children’s nursery and gym as well as training rooms. The first floor encompasses individually-designed meeting rooms, a library and a large majlis event space while the second floor houses senior management offices and the boardroom.

The ground floor reception area has been designed to mimic a traditional Emirati outdoor courtyard, with the incorporation of arches and seating alcoves combined with lush greenery – not only through the use of biophilia but also through the application of a soft ombre envelope – that completely alters the atmosphere of the space, creating a memorable moment immediately upon visitor greeting. With a playful mindset, users are organically led into a working environment, which has been equipped to fulfil the needs and activities of both adults and children.

The nursery space takes cues from time-honoured Emirati craftsmanship, which are manifested in a range of design components: the handmade sadu composition – a traditional weaving technique using palm leaves – is applied on the ceiling, and structures that nod to the local desert landscape are placed within the design. Roar has imagined several design moments to allow for vertical and horizontal play including the Lego wall, the sadu teddy bear, and climbing walls with many pockets for exploration and play. The first floor is the main office space featuring a series of seamless open offices, enclosed and translucent meeting rooms as well as a flowing library for research, reflection and relaxation.