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Architects: CAA
- Area: 2400 m²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Courtesy of CAA
If you ever been in an office tower you’ve probably seen the gruelling reality of people doing their jobs in poorly lit rooms. It makes for great satire, but more than that, it’s an attempt to allow people focus on their work at hand. It works, but not terribly effectively. CAA believes it found a better way - despite the conventional layout - to give people a place to produce in healthier place using details that endorse simplicity by design.
The interior represents the future workplace in its purest form. It conveys a feel of uncluttered organization in crystal white enhanced with a custom developed Jade green color scheme for shared. The biggest quality of this office however is what cannot be seen, but only experienced.
The nature of the business means that employees are always on the move. This high mobility has a significant effect on the thermal performance of the space. To tackle this problem CAA looked at the body of professional athletes, who warm up and need to cool down quickly. The developed solution reduces the core temperature based on the amount of activity by machine and humans, promoting recovery and improving performance. This is key, because heat has a big impact on everything from fatigue to the buildings operation cost.
Traditional buildings are “natural radiators” that help shed heat, while modern buildings are built in a way that they contain heat, requiring more machines to cool the indoors, therefore determining the proper temperature and air refresh rate was tricky. Cool too slowly, and the rooms habituate to the temperature and don’t feel cooler. Cool too quickly and your body will loose performance and focus on whatever you are working on. By taking heat out of the rooms and using heat-exchange technology the office maintains in a state where it can perform optimally.
As for the experience: the individual offices take their cue from the fluid, dynamic ribbon that underpins the unique style of this office. Every part of each room is focused on the user, allowing total concentration and overview from behind the desk. The dividing window panels for example are made with extra sound insulating properties, while the dotted print reduces the distraction from passing colleagues. Employee safety is taken to the highest level by using the latest non-disturbing security measures, quality air purifiers, clear office organization as well as transparent rooms.
