The wheel of time always keeps rolling until change becomes the only true constant. Everything in life eventually evolves and changes for the better. Through the past, people have changed, as have their lifestyles, aspirations and their work structure. So why shouldn’t the workspaces change as well? With ‘Innvo8’ the idea was to create a workplace for the next gen; blending the startup entrepreneur culture with today. Designed to cater to these new set of requirements and housing 500 individuals together, bringing the energetic workforce in the forefront limelight was the aim. Instead of having a rigid corporate space, the vision employed put forward a workspace where meetings could happen comfortably and work could be done at the employee’s own disposal. Making work fun, benefitting by creative interactions and exchange of ideas became the key.
Size: 12,500Sq.Ft.
Type: Commercial
Location: Dlf Cyber City, Gurugram
Status: Completed In March 2018
Design Team: Abhigyan Neogi, Chinmay Ajmani, Shriya Sohi, Bhavya Khanna & Saumya Sharma
Text: Himani Ahuja
Located amidst one of the most visited workspace and social destinations by today’s youth, DLF Cyber City Gurugram lies this enviable, sleek office space – Innov8. With the start of its distinct initiative, Innov8 collaborated on the design front with the young passionate team have left a mark in today’s evolving work culture, and are working towards providing quality design spaces. Likewise, Innov8 pushes across an innov8ve idea to put across spaces which become havens for start ups or companies, as their “coworking spaces”.
Ar. Abhigyan The architect pushed this free flowing idea of designing a co-working space which required a barrier free young design evolving from workspace being a second home to people, a space where there is need for connections and networking to effectively boost the productivity of the workers, also to make work fun, benefitting by creative interactions and exchange of ideas. The space needed to make a person feel a sense of belongingness instead of depressive loneliness to work better. Designed with minute details in place by Chromed Design Studio Team, the space has its own quirks and inspirations through thoughtful design. Need formal space for presentations? Want an offbeat space for creative brainstorming? Need a casual break out space for a delicious snack or to write a script? Feel like looking out the window, for an interesting view? Whatever your office needs or desires are, Chromed Design Studio got you covered.
The design is armed with premium lounge areas, an amphitheater, green ideation spaces, mixed bag of seating and even a diverse library! Prepared for great innovations to take place, the centre-stage wall with bright orange installation shouts loud. Changing flooring patterns & finishes puts across a smart way to create boundaries without boundaries creating a smart segregation of its own, also adding to the functional and aesthetical value. The central area is cleverly demarcated by a permutation-combination of colorful motifs printed on vinyl appearing like a quirky carpet from afar. Dotting the well-lit, luxurious central seating with artificial yet artistic ferns is a simple method to make it more visually appealing. Keeping the color palette neutral with variations of warm shades brings out the character of the space very well. Strategically placed stepped seating to produce a mini open Amphitheatre type seating calls for larger groups of discussions or personal yet casual break out workspace.
The external façade has long wide glass panels to capitalize on the available daylight for adequately lit interiors, in addition to the lighting fixtures and plans. The reception desk also has a character of its own with a unique noteworthy sleek design texture, creating an immediate impact on any visitor. Mirrors have also been integrated into the design scheme to give an overall wider sense of space while keeping higher ceilings with exposed service inlets for quick rounds of maintenance by engineers as in when needed.
Interestingly, the circulation spaces here warp in a surprisingly natural manner, making way for user centric transitions and breaking the tradition of monotony. Eye catching chandeliers in repeated mirror reflections provide for an overall ambience enhancement. The actual office cabin workspaces have inspirational, sometimes metaphoric representations of ideas associated with work. These graphical representations are like artworks within themselves playing concepts of motivations, universal truths and their kind. With the cursive calligraphy of “Time Flies” over the wall, abutted by two large intricate wall clocks on either side, one can see a hoard of handmade paper airplanes “flying” off to a certain direction making for a space that inspires dreams. A constant reminder of how difficult times will eventually pass and make one reach his goal.
Game scenes of classics like Mario and Angry Birds bring back fond memories of childhood like a reboot back into the time where our dreams were still taking shape. There are small potted ferns all around the office to cheer up people, bring outdoors indoors and keep the air fresh. All the lamps here have a unique tripod design which looks straight out of a Renaissance Artist’s house! Some of the other wall graffitis are direct reminders of the early classics like Lion King, Batman and Harry Potter which allow for certain common topics to discuss. There’s something for everyone, as the posters range between even Bollywood Classics like Sholay proving the space to not just be designed as a rigorous working zone! Even one word modern motivations find their place on the walls of the premises such as “Hustle” symbolic of getting on the move instead of being stuck in a rut, “Take chances!” a reminder that no one got too far always playing safe.
All in all everything ties in together really well, with a little bit of everything for any and everyone who visits or works here, whether they are freelancers, entrepreneurs, or simply a company with the requirement of meeting and working spaces at different locations. Overall, the architectural piece is an introduction of a space with a sense of belongingness instead of structured guidelines to work better.