Central Square Foundation
New Delhi
Overview
The central square foundation is an NGO working for the ministry in the education field. It is involved in research work, proposing policies to the government and creating education programs. It called for a highly collaborative form of working. So what the organization need was an office space that promotes the fine balance between the collaboration needs and creating private quiet zones, creating cocoons inside the office where people can come together and exchange ideas and views.
Concept
The design was conceptualised by mapping the collaboration and the existing spaces in the building grid. The focus was kept on how to handle the native challenges of the building like low ceiling height, beams protruding out, etc. The wish list was to have a soundscape office where noise is absorbed.
So the open ceiling and low beam height required the special attention. The understanding was how to combine the meeting pattern, optimize the space, and figure out the right set of rooms led to the program derivation and detailing.
Design
The building is designed as a mix of external and internal areas. This was aimed to collaborate the various ideas and thoughts to maintain the desired functionality. The external area was kept near the reception zone which is the entry point that led to the first and second hall. This helped in the decongestion of the functions to be performed The meeting rooms and telephone booths are made throughout the area to ease the communication process and thus helping in delivering desired results. The telephone booths are made sound proof to maintain silence and confidentiality. Lots of emphases were given to the intake of natural daylight without the glare and accordingly, the windows were sufficiently blocked to disallow glare yet have sufficient intake of the natural light.
From the colour scheme standpoint, the entire office was designed as a neutral scheme with the branding colours predominantly splashed across the office. Lots of importance was given to the storage capacity which was defined as personal and corporate storage. Spaces were created to position the indoor plants to have a soothing ambiance
To handle the open ceiling special panels were designed which acted as sound clouds between the hall to absorb the sound. The AC system was put up on the side ensuring a proper flow creating no stale pockets which were enhanced by the inflow of fresh air to maintain the air quality inside.
Open cafeteria was built to invite association and engagements which acted as an extension of the office itself
Key features
Built to have collaboration and exchange.
The neutral colour scheme with a splash of brand colours made the building speak its work
Importance to sunlight.
Maintaining a fresh flow of air
Makes Impossible outcomes possible.