COMING TOGETHER WITH ONE VISION

For a unique project such as this, DB&B Singapore’s design innovation board tag-team DB&B Shanghai to deliver a holistic design solution. With the regional design leadership team leading the initial programming stages to the workshops and townhall sessions, it was critical for Invista and their group of companies to fully grasp the change and
transformational requirements to a more open and ‘officeless’ work environment.

Through various observations and user studies, DB&B also concluded that the new work space needed to be comfortable and one that promotes employee well-being. This was one of the key driving force behind an overarching design concept that was inspired by nature and its people; an office habitat within the concrete jungle of Yangpu District which is best described as an oasis. This design narrative and planning have deeply influenced the overall look and feel of the workspace that Invista now proudly calls ‘Home’.

THE GREEN OASIS

The planning principles took all the considerable possibilities to adapt to the ever changing workplace culture and the organisation’s future growth. DB&B was committed to enable full flexibility and modularity to support Invista’s operational needs. One key feature of this space is the Social Hub that forms the heart of the space, where employees can meet, share, and dine as one family. Located just adjacent to the reception area, this multi-functional zone represents the very essence of connectivity. It provides a combination of social and private spaces to meet various meeting needs.

The diverse selection of seating, a stylish water front bar area, a blend of different furniture selection, formal private meeting rooms can play host to a variety of activities. Whether it’s a luncheon or even a party, people have plenty of opportunities to interact in a social, professional and innovative environment. This ecosystem allows work and lifestyles to collide and fuse in multiple dimensions, providing employees and visitors with a warm and relaxed setting.

A PLACE TO BE CREATIVE, TOGETHER

Designed with flexibility and collaboration in mind, the open workspace is equipped with 120-degree workstation, interspersed with design aesthetics and different forms of collaborative furniture which offers modularity and ergonomics to ensure well-being of employees. In accordance with the function and the proportion of people, the enclosed meeting rooms in different locations are allocated for employees in the different zones. Work areas are planned as self-serving ‘neighbourhoods’ to have sufficient amenities and facilities.

In an open plan office, it’s also critical not to undermine noise levels. By introducing suspended echo panels at collaboration and discussion areas, this will improve on sound absorption.

DB&B also infused a myriad of lush greenery into the space, from the central core at the Social Hub to the workspace as well as creatively applied them as vertical space dividers. A critical component of an oasis, indoor plants are proven to also benefit employees in encouraging both mental and physical well-being.

The interior design of the office is rapidly evolving, and they are no longer limited to the traditional monotony of the past. Companies are designing the workspace as a second ‘home’ to employees. Hence, they are putting great emphasis in ensuring the workspace is no longer solely for work but also a platform for them to create bonds and cultivate a sense of belonging.

Moving with times, insta-worthy nooks with a backdrop of Invista’s brand messages are created as to catch up on the social media trend. An added value to the design was the successfully application of Invista’s proprietary products as part of the interiors. Almost 70% of the flooring was laid with carpet tiles that are made of Invista’s ANTRON fiber.

Based on user research, the DB&B design team not only explored the working styles and successfully enabled a people-oriented smart work space for Invista and their group of companies but also, one that takes into account a place to socialise and bond as a big family.

Caption: A welcoming and brightly lit entrance at Invista features a generous reception counter along with biophilic elements.

Caption: Apart from cladding the space with lush greenery and warm hues, the concept of an oasis is further enhanced with maximum daylight entering the space. This sanctuary is lively, fashionable, vibrant and community-driven, enhanced by breath-taking, unobstructed window views.

Caption: Seating options are aplenty, ranging from round tables to cushion seats, high tables and formal meeting room spaces.

Caption: Acoustic panels suspended from the ceiling helps to curb noise levels at discussion areas and serves its dual purpose as a decorative feature

Seeking to consolidate their businesses in Shanghai, global leader in the family travel and vacation sector, Foliday recently moved into their 65,000 square feet office at SunPalace. This new space houses over 800 employees from three brands within the group- ClubMed, Albion and Casa Cook.

Bolstering Identity

It was imperative to design a space which represents what Foliday stands for – a ‘vacation destination’ instead of a mere office space. To bind the brands together, the colours in this office reflects a mix of the corporate colours from all three entities. The floorplates are also zoned after a beach resort theme, with a Port of Arrival, Deep Sea Venture, Coastal Waves, Beach and Land, and Mountain Peaks forming the various zones.

Wallspaces at collaboration hubs were used as a form of communication with employees and visitors, sharing fun facts about the various entities. Imagery used on the walls exude holidaying vibes, showcasing travel activities and the various properties Foliday owns globally.

Creating Connections

To foster collaboration, scrums areas were carved out near workstations for easy accessibility. These activity-based spaces are available in various configurations and serve the dual purpose of a congregation spot for team lunches and smaller group parties.

For larger groups and townhalls, a social hub is available at the two lower floors, offering a variety of seating arrangements ranging from individual bar seats to large communal tables. This space is spruced up by overhead trellis designs, wall textures and placement of branding sculptures to represent the various entities. Wood and warm lighting is used to create a welcoming vibe and encourage casual interactions among employees.

To increase accessibility between both social hubs and the main reception located at the top level, an internal staircase is erected to connect all three levels of the workplace. Biophilia is injected throughout the office space to promote wellness. Hot and cold beverages, and a foosball table are readily available at the pantries for a quick respite from work.  

Foliday

Club Med

Corporate imagery are stretched across walls near breakout areas, creating a strong sense of brand identity.

The main social space located at the two lower floors of the office provides a variety of seating options.

Imagery used on the walls exude holidaying vibes, showcasing travel activities and the various properties Foliday owns globally.

Huddle spots and collaboration areas are available near workstations to provide work settings suitable for brainstorming, exchange of ideas and quick discussions between employees.

A pavilion constructed amongst the workstations to break the monotony of workstations in the space and offers an interesting piece of architecture to the space. 

Casa Cook

Apart from open collaboration spaces, enclosed meeting rooms are also available in various sizes, and themed after the brands.

Albion

Thomas Cook

Cladded in wood flooring with glass spandrels surrounding the stairwell, these stairs serve as the vertical connection for the three-storey office.

A fun mix of textures, icons and lighting to spruce up the main social space at the office.

Bright Power Semiconductors have recently moved into their 55,500 square feet office in Shanghai, China. Being one of the leading semiconductor and virtual IDM companies, they wanted to create a futuristic workplace that drives innovation and inspires their employees to continually explore the possibilities technology can bring.

Taking into consideration their goals and understanding how they work, DB&B’s Shanghai team incorporated smart technology to design a revolutionary experience for employees and visitors as they journey through the office space. Guided by the principles of WELL Design, this new office also embodies BPS’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and employee wellness and is currently in the process of receiving its Well Design certification.

DIVE INTO THE FUTURE

Aligned with the concept of a modern and futuristic space, the colours used in this office takes on a monochromatic spectrum, with light tones of wood and pops of accent colours. At the front office, a generous space is carved out to welcome guests and employees, and to host the connecting staircase between the first two levels of the office.

To facilitate product demonstrations and corporate introductions, a large interactive screen with touchless motion sensors is also mounted onto the adjacent wall, offering an immersive and seamless presentation experience. The raised platform at the base of the stairs is thoughtfully elevated to serve as additional seating for guests.

Meeting rooms are designed with the highest standards of conferencing capabilities. Each room is equipped with an interactive screen which doubles up as a digital whiteboard for brainstorming sessions. Microphones and speakers are concealed within the ceilings to improve overall the acoustic experience. To enable employees to plan their schedules efficiently, room availabilities are reflected in a smart booking system.

COMFORT ON POINT

Focusing on employee wellness, an exercise space was carved out to encourage an active lifestyle during breaks or after working hours. Teapoints are also located every 25metres to increase accessibility to water. Air quality is checked frequently through an advanced air ventilation system to ensure clean airflow and ambient temperatures throughout the office. Additional desktop lighting is also provided to all employees to enhance visual comfort while working.

To aid in the Group’s bold strive towards greater productivity and efficiency, Veolia selected DB&B to explore activity based work settings where there will no longer be assigned seats, allowing employees to be fully agile and have the
choice of seating types that is suited to the task at hand.

After a thorough understanding of user needs, DB&B designed a dynamic, open concept office which promotes collaboration. A central social hub for people to congregate, training and meeting facilities, collaboration areas, huddle rooms, open benches, quiet rooms, and phone booths were carefully planned to fully support Veolia’s day-to-day operational needs.

The core of the public design story is the Social Hub. The design concept DB&B conceived includes having three major sections of the workspace representing Veolia’s core areas of business. The reception, with its focus on the flow of people, is named Water. The cafe, with its focus on food, recycling and renewal is metaphorically referred to as the Waste side of the business. The meeting suites, with a focus on knowledge sharing, are delineated with the title Energy.

The Social Hub with the reception taking centre stage, branches out to breakout and meeting spaces, media showcase and cafe. This community hub aims to be a multi-function platform that can be utilised at any time of the day for a variety of tasks.

VISUAL IMPACT

The design team also applied a unique design element for visual impact. The ceiling design which mimics lenticular clouds that hover over space gives subtle impressions of demarcation within the large space without having walls.

The workplace is dynamic and flexible – representing a constant evolution of Veolia’s scope of business. In this space, there are multiple seating options and configurations. Bench workstations are height adjustable to allow choice of sitting or standing. 120 degree workstations allow work material to be available for both hands. Work pods allow for focused work. At the back-of-house work area, we created multiple collaboration areas. Sofas and side table seating can facilitate group meetings. In this setting, questions can be asked and answered in a public forum. The bookcases at the collaboration areas become less transparent as employees add books, manuals, sculptures and plants and these also doubled-up as a creative space divider. With nearly 60% of everyday meetings amongst two to four people according to recent studies, DB&B responded to this workplace metric by placing 4-pax sized (persons approximate) meeting rooms interspersed amongst the workspace. These rooms allow small groups to find a quiet area to conveniently have a discussion.

In line with an agile system, desks are not assigned. Each morning when an employee reports to work, they’ll place their belongings in a locker and find the work setting and seating that is best suited for their first task of the day. In the course of the day tasks will change and that might call for alternative settings. Personal lockers are provided to hold work materials and personal effects thus becoming a mini-library that is visited multiple times over the day. These personal lockers are tucked discreetly along the perimeter of the building core.

Taking into consideration Veolia’s goal in enabling a dynamic and forward-thinking workplace, this new platform also underlines the company’s quest for innovation. Responsive design and a new work strategy contribute to the mental, physical and social health of Veolia employees.