London - Arabstoday
Less is more when it comes to new-age offices today. Office interiors today are about creating vibrant environment... A young executive swipes his card, rushes to the coffee machine, orders a sandwich, checks from the high sized glass interiors if his boss is in, and then hops on to his workstation. On the other hand, in the black and white conference room which looks more like a cafeteria, 6 executives are discussing their new media plan. And you see a bunch of new trainees laughing and drawing up plans in the cafeteria. These scenes are reflective of the new age interiors at offices. Interior designer duo Ankit and Ankura Patel feel that office environment today is based more on a person's tasks as opposed to his designation. They say, "Leisure and entertainment are no longer taboo words. They are woven into the day's schedule allowing employees to alternate stress-busting exercises with high-octane meetings and brainstorming sessions." It's more about the positive energy. Says Ankura Patel a CEPT graduate, "It's also about electrical systems, air-conditioning, security, fire alarm, axis control and sprinkler systems." Often designers create a lively environment to improve employees' work capability. Says architect Ujjwal Fadia, "We did an office for a fashion designer and we did a whole ramp in his studio." Says Nilesh Kava, an interior designer, "There are corporate offices with light fittings that will reduce power consumption." Furniture is comfortable, even funky. Says Ankura Patel, "Today, with technology coming in, the per person space requirement has reduced to 70-90 sq. feet area." Agrees Ankit Patel, "We can minimise the wood usage and maximise the usage of leed certified material to contribute to mother nature." With new businesses, office interiors are less rigid with bright faces at work!