open plan office

THIS is a small space Trade Office located in a very busy, place at the Motijheel Commercial Area in Dhaka City. The client wanted a modern computerized set-up and a new, contemporary look for his office.

The first concern for any designer working on office décor is to make it functional. It is important to meet the client, understand his requirements, the nature of the work conducted in the office, and the manner in which the work is to be carried out. Only then is it possible to devise the circulation pattern for the workspace.

This office design is based on the concept of "Open Office Planning." A long space is divided into two parts. One part is allocated for the managing director of the company and the remaining space is set aside for the office executives.

According to the "Open Office" concept, better communication exists amongst co-workers, and between the executives and the management than in partitioned offices. People can talk to one another, use visual signals, and pass papers from hand to hand, without going in and out of separate spaces and through corridors.

A long computer table was arranged for trade purposes. Small chairs have been set in the small space. These are for the clients. A low height 4'-0" partition was also set up to ensure working privacy. A two-stepped curved counter table has been placed centrally for the accounts, to make cash handling easier and more comfortable for the officers. A small reception table has also been set next to the counter table, which also faces the main entry door.

Behind the reception table, a 5'-0" height partition has been set up to create space for a mini kitchen, as a small catering arrangement is essential for any office. Partitions are made of garjon wood and commercial board, in a colour scheme of ash and slate blue. The slate blue top border makes the partition elegant.

The entry gate is also very important. A tempered glass door of 3'-0" length is placed at the entrance. The entrance is made stylish by a glass brick wall beside the door, and a bold stainless steel pipe placed vertically in the wall.

The MD's room is located next to the entry door. For privacy, this room is separated by clear glass with white Thai aluminum. The MD's table and side cabinets are made of Burma teak, following the same slate blue colour scheme to give the place an elegant atmosphere.

A semi-circle corner table is placed in the room to make it functional. Stock-trading being the key activity of the business of this office, a computer system has been set up. Facing the table is a wall, which is partly made from bricks, and partly of glass bricks set in a stepped formation, to give it a different look altogether.

The open office plan allows you to cover the entire office in a single sweeping glance, and yet, privacy is easily maintained. A beautiful white false ceiling, with three levels, covers the entire length of the office ceiling. A curved false ceiling is set in the centre, which creates a dramatic break, and also hides all manner of electrical wiring.

Lights are arranged in two different themes. Spotlights provide a beautiful play of light and shadow on the decorative wall. Three group lines and different byramics colours on the wall makes it totally different from a traditional whitewashed office wall.

The colour scheme is white ash and blue. The interior décor makes bold use of the white and blue combination. White and blue tiles have been placed on the floor and also in the partition. The curved blue floor and contrasting white floor set a startling tone to the entire space, also providing that slight touch of informality. Though this is a comparatively smaller office space, the soothing colour, openness and strong forms of furniture and material strongly portray elegance and peace.

Nazneen Haque Mimi
Interior Consultant
Journeyman
For further details contact e-mail: journeym@citechco. net
Photo Credit: Hasan Saifuddin Chandan