Cd 01 03 2018

WPP license no. MR/TECH/WPP-75/North/2018 License to post without prepayment Postal Registration No. MCN/265/2017-2019 Published on 25th of every previous month.

Posting date: 29th &30th of every previous month. Posted at Patrika Channel Sorting Office, Mumbai-400001. Registered with Registrar of Newspapers under RNI No. MAHENG/2013/52810.

Exploring the shift in workplace trends; A look at how HVAC systems can drive building efficiency and performance The definitive guide to successful commercial spaces and facilities management

Case study

GE Digital – ‘World’s No.1’ office, executed by Cherry Hill Interiors

STRATEGISING FOR

SUCCESS

RAJESH SHETTY, SENIOR NATIONAL DIRECTOR, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL INDIA, DELVES INTO THE FUNDAMENTALS AND PRINCIPLES THAT SHAPED HIS VISIONS AND HIS JOURNEY WITH THE COMPANY Published by ITP Media (India)

Total pages 52 Volume 5 | Issue 7 | March 2018 | `50

INCOMPARable

engineering of our high rise facade

At Glasswall Systems, facade technology exceeds just engineering and design.

It is a balance of knowledge together with practical solutions that gives us the edge and helps us redeďŹ ne the city skyline.

project : Indiabulls blu Client : Indiabulls Real estate

WHERE MAGIC HAPPENS ...

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IN_Commercial_design_225x300_0218.indd 1

19/02/18 16:20

Editor’s note

Power of a workplace People are rejecting the uninspiring sea of sameness that has come to be known as “the office.”As organisations grow and evolve, changing business strategies and emerging employee needs impact space design and product innovation. What differentiates the best employers is their ability to drive overall happiness and, as a result, increase employee productivity.

Recognition of the fact that it is the people within an organisation that determine its success is driving a movement to design from the inside out. This is changing the office landscape and creating more exciting places to work. Furthermore, a workplace that shifts from a management-driven culture to one that is more human-centric and supports the creation of new ideas will maintain its relevance and differentiation.

As a company’s strategy evolves to meet changing market dynamics, its space can also evolve, reducing the cost of realigning the workforce and the space to support changing business needs. Architecture, interior design, and furnishings can together provide a tangible way to support and even prompt change within the culture of an organisation, fostering deep employee engagement and attracting top talent.

As real-estate costs represent the second largest corporate expense, it is vital that companies understand exactly how their space is being utilised. One of the best examples of an office that exemplifies these principles is GE Digital’s Bengalurubased facility. Executed by Cherry Hill, the office recently came out first in the annual list of ‘Top 25 Most Popular Offices of 2017’ by Office Snapshots, a global resource for the office design community.

This issue explores some of the best adopted practices and takes a glimpse at some outstanding workplaces.

Rashmi Naicker Editor rashmi.naicker@itp.com

March 2018 | VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 7 ITP MEDIA (INDIA) PVT. LTD Notan Plaza, 3rd floor, 898 Turner Road Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400050, India T +91 22 6154 6000 Deputy managing director S Saikumar Group publishing director Bibhor Srivastava EDITORIAL Editor Rashmi Naicker T +91 22 6154 6041 rashmi.naicker@itp.com Contributors Anamika Butalia, Shristi Nangalia ADVERTISING Director Indrajeet Saoji T +91 22 6154 6024 indrajeet.saoji@itp.com Executive-Advertising Sales Roopal Mishra T +91 22 6154 6021 roopal.mishra@itp.com STUDIO Head of design Milind Patil Senior designer Vinod Shinde Contributor Saili Bandre PRODUCTION Deputy production manager Ramesh Kumar CIRCULATION Distribution manager James D’Souza T +91 22 6154 6006 james.dsouza@itp.com

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances.

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Printed and Published by Sai Kumar Shanmugam, Flat no 903, Building 47, NRI Colony, Phase – 2, Part -1, Sector 54, 56, 58, Nerul, Navi Mumbai 400706, on behalf of ITP Media (India) Pvt. Ltd, printed at Indigo Press India Pvt. Ltd., Plot No. 1C / 716, Off Dadoji Konddeo Cross Road, Between Sussex and Retiwala Ind. Estate, Byculla (East), Mumbai-400 027, India and published at ITP Media (India) Pvt. Ltd, Notan Plaza, 3rd floor, 898 Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400050, India Editor: Rashmi Naicker

WRITE TO THE EDITOR Please address your letters to: The Editor, Commercial Design, 898 Notan Plaza, 3rd floor, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai - 400050 or email rashmi.naicker@itp.com. Please provide your full name and address, stating clearly if you do not wish us to print them.

The opinions expressed in this section are of particular individuals and are in no way a reflection of the publisher’s views.

4 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Published by and © 2018 ITP Media (India) Pvt. Ltd RNI No. MAHENG/2013/52810

Contents

MARCH 2018 Volume 5

Issue 7

12 20

8 BULLETIN

A roundup of the latest industry news from across the country.

12 COVER STORY

Rajesh Shetty, senior national director, facilities management, Colliers International India, delves into the fundamentals and principles that shaped his visions and his journey

20 TRENDS

Experts weigh in on current trends in office interiors as CD explores factors influencing and affecting workplace design

28 FOCUS

Latest HVAC systems can be integrated early in the design with the help of experts and advanced technology

CASE STUDY 36 A glimpse into the conceptualisation and design of the ‘World’s No. 1’ office, executed by Cherry Hill Interiors in Bengaluru

46 Swiss Bureau designs a sinuous, refined space for financial services group,Amana Capital 40 POST EVENT

A peek into the second edition of iNFHRA’s FM Excellence Conference & Awards 2017-18, held in Gurgaon

36 6 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

50 PRODUCTS What’s new on the market.

ADVISORY BOARD Our distinguished advisory board has been assembled to help guide Commercial Design to become even more representative of its community.

Members have been invited from the highest levels of the industry to ensure that the magazine continues on its path of success.

Jagvinder Pinny Mann Sr Portfolio Manager, Microsoft India

Bhupesh Pathak Director, IFM & Asset Services, Cushman & Wakefield

Ajay Bhatt Assistant VP and head, Facilities and Estate, Godrej Industries

Joanna Gomes Proprietor, Designers’ Guild

Ar. Reza Kabul Principal, Architect Reza Kabul

Rajat Malhotra Sr vice-president, IFM, Jones Lang LaSalle India

George Mckay South Asia director, Office and Integrated Services, Colliers International

Deben Moza Joint CEO, Knight Frank Property Services Private Limited

Ar. Swapnil Sawant Director and co-founder, Worksphere Architects

Sameer Saxena Group manager, Property Administration, Mercer

Ar. Ninad Tipnis Principal, JTCPL Designs

Deepak Uppal President,Vatika Enviro

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Subscribe to COMMERCIAL DESIGN by completing the form and sending it to: Subscription Department ITP Media (India) Pvt. Ltd, Turner Road, 898 Notan Plaza, 3rd Floor, Bandra (W), Mumbai-400 050. India For further queries write to: james.dsouza@itp.com | Tel:+91 22 6154 6000/6006 l l

8 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

INDIA AWARDS 2017

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE FACADE INDUSTRY

INDIA AWARDS 2015

INDIA AWARDS 2014

Bulletin

Mikasa shines at Domotex

H

eld in Germany, Domotex, a prestigious trade fair for flooring coverings, connects architecture and design industries with interior brands. The only Indian flooring brand present there was Mikasa, premium engineered wood floors from Greenlam Industries.

Saurabh Mittal, MD and CEO, Greenlam Industries, said, “Platforms such as Domotex offer an opportunity to showcase our progress and share the stage with some of the biggest names in the industry.” Mikasa exhibited its easy-to-install solutions that rely on the PlankLoc technology, allowing customers to install floors without the use of any adhesive or glue.

H&R Johnson introduces Virtual Reality Platform their stores

W

hen it comes to retail technology, virtual reality and augmented reality have completely revolutionised the in-store experience.

Being at the forefront of innovation, H&R Johnson has introduced a stateof-the-art Virtual Reality (VR) platform, which will completely transform the browsing, selection and buying process of different product categories, when it comes to designing spaces.

Since tiles are bulky, it gets difficult to showcase the entire range at all retail touch points. H&R Johnson’s VR Platform can help customers visualise a much larger range of products in a realistic-looking virtual environment. These photorealistic environments are interactive, as consumers can browse, visualise, customise and change almost everything — right from wall to floor panels.

Due to free movement in VR, consumers can seamlessly walk around virtual spaces and customise almost everything and can visualise both indoor as well as outdoor spaces. This platform has been optimised to have low latency. This avoids delays and lags in the overall VR experience leading to high performance.

10 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

India is third on Annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED List

T

he US Green Building Council (USGBC) recently announced the annual top 10 regions for LEED, which recognises markets outside the US that are using LEED to create healthier, more sustainable spaces for citizens to live, learn, work and play.

India ranked third with more than 752 LEED-certified projects totalling over 20.28 million sqm gross. The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross areas as of December 31, 2017 and represents 6,657 projects totalling over 158 million sqm gross.

According to a Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report, to which USGBC was a contributing partner, countries indicated that economic forces were the most important drivers for green building.

The report also revealed that increasing consumer demand has pushed the world’s green building market to a trillion-dollar industry. It has led to a corresponding increase in the scope and size of the green building materials market, which is expected to reach $234 billion by 2019.

Bulletin

HP gets its 3D printing technology to India

E

xpanding on its 3D printing industry leadership and momentum, HP Inc announced the commercial availability of its awardwinning Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing solution in India. “We believe that digital transformation of manufacturing will be a key enabler of the next industrial revolution,” said Sumeer Chandra, MD, HP Inc India.

“It will contribute to democratising manufacturing and transforming industries, including the $6 trillion Asia-Pacific and Japan manufacturing segment. India is a strategic hub for this significant shift, and we are excited to bring this cutting-edge technology to Indian customers across a variety of vertical markets.” The technology is a production-ready commercial system that delivers quality physical parts up to 10 times faster and at half the cost of current 3D printing systems. HP also announced Imaginarium and Adroitec as resellers of its 3D printing solution in the country. Speaking on the partnership, Atit Kothari, business development – Leadership

Team, Imaginarium, said, “With its revolutionary Voxel technology, the HP MJF machine will be a game changer for the Indian manufacturing

Ozone’s seamless innovation

O

zone has unveiled Airdrive, one of the slimmest automatic sliding door systems. It is designed with a tiny yet powerful operator of only 68mm height and 135mm depth. Despite its slim structure, this energy-efficient door system is compliant with prevailing German, CE and EU standards for low-voltage directives with max power consumption of 250W. With this system, two- and three-metre door openings can be achieved in single sliding and biparting door configurations respectively. This new product launch stays true to the message of the brand – “what’s visible is seamless interior decor, what’s invisible is innovative engineering.”

sector, and we’re primed to play a part as an early adopter, evangelist, reseller and service bureau.”

FORM IV

(Statement about ownership and other particulars about the newspaper/magazine COMMERCIAL DESIGN to be published in the first issue every year after the last day of February) Name of the Publication: COMMERCIAL DESIGN Periodicity of the publication/ Language: Monthly/English Printer’s Name: Saikumar Shanmugam Nationality: Indian (i) Whether Citizen of India: Yes (ii) If a foreigner, country of origin Not applicable Address: Notan Plaza, 3rd Floor, 898, Turner Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai- 400 050, Maharashtra Publisher’s Name: Saikumar Shanmugam Nationality: Indian (i) Whether Citizen of India: Yes (ii) If a foreigner, country of origin: Not applicable Address: Notan Plaza, 3rd Floor, 898, Turner Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai- 400 050, Maharashtra.

Editor’s Name: Rashmi Naicker Nationality: Indian (i) Whether Citizen of India: Yes (ii) If a foreigner, country of origin: Not applicable Address: Notan Plaza, 3rd Floor, 898, Turner Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai- 400 050, Maharashtra.

Name and address of the individuals who own the newspaper/magazine and partners or shareholders holding more than one percent of the total capital.

ITP Media (India) Pvt. Ltd., ITP Holdings Inc, PO Box 500024, Dubai, U.A.E. I, Saikumar Shanmugam, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: February 28, 2018

Saikumar Shanmugam Signature of the publisher

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 11

Cover Story

12 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Strategising for success

Rajesh Shetty, senior national director, facilities management, Colliers International India, delves into the fundamentals and principles that shaped his visions and his journey with the company

BY RASHMI NAICKER

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 13

Cover story

M

any adherent FM members often make claims that a good strategy can be one of the contributing factors in the success of client organisation.

Some service providers go even further with attestation of valuable benefits — ranging from the removal of all financial risk to monitoring every sustainable aspect.

Claims of high value returns on investment in FM are sometimes at odds with the reality of what some people consider to be a commodity service with a poor reputation for delivery. But the truth of the matter is that the importance of this vertical is more prominent now than ever before.

Buildings count for half of the primary energy sources consumption, half of all consumed raw materials, and produce hundreds of million tonnes of waste and a third of the world’s CO2 production. These statistics have made construction and building of low energy buildings an international trend. More than transportation, mining or any other industry, it is primarily the building industry that facilities administration, management and better utilisation of resources as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Rajesh Shetty, senior national director of facilities management at Colliers International India, sheds light on the subject. Having started his career as a civil engineer, Shetty travelled internationally to oversee the refurbishments and maintenance assignments for over 70 hospitals.

He forayed into facilities management when he returned to India in 1999. Today, he finds himself at the helm of affairs, growing the FM business both organically and inorganically, for one of the largest companies in this segment.

Setting priorities Shetty shares the most critical aspect that he focused on — making use of all his experience and preempting those repeat challenges in the

14 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Cover story

new environment. “Close to any start-up environment, the focus in Colliers International remained sharp on client feedback for improvement, mobilising all resources together to deliver on promises through collaboration and tighter governance, and thinking and doing more for the client and worrying less for ourselves in the process,” he states.

He mentions that cost and business compliance continue to remain a challenge and a focus area. For these, his philosophy is that there are no shortcuts to success. “I am a firm believer of the age-old adage that ‘time invested with clients and your people is never wasted’, as eventually it results in long-term dividends.”

Another aspect that he delves on is sustainability. He says: “Sustainability is not just one organisation’s focus alone, it is a cumulative effort of all stakeholders in a project, most

critically that of the end users.

Therefore, clearly defining the common objectives and ensuring absolute transparency in communication, followed by action is the key agenda. Many times, these efforts go beyond the scope of the engagement and hence collaborations at every level and between stakeholders result in the success of any sustainability programme.”

Overall property management, being people’s business, tends to become perception-driven and centric to some key resources within the establishment. To do away with this, he asserts that, besides setting up stronger processes, it’s important to rely on data, facts and analysis of historical data.

Binding all focus areas and initiatives through a structured/ compliance framework, following best practices of procurement, and defining measurable standards

FACT FILE: COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL  Over 102 million sqft under management (pan-India)  In collaboration with 166 clients  More than 300 properties/facilities managed  With the support of 1000-plus employees  And operations in 22 cities in India

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 15

Cover story

has ensured best results on sustainability for Colliers International. The company, besides investing in its own resources in up-skilling their awareness on sustainability, have also made some strategic alliances with energy managers, waste management agencies and utility companies, to extend best in class support for its clients.

In most cases, there is never much scope to undo the design executed, hence, the best solution is to have a collective meeting with all stakeholders to address the case in point and derive an acceptable way forward for maintenance.”

Collaborating for efficient solutions While the industry recognises the need for early involvement of FMs in developing a programme, it tends to miss out in creating a sustained and intermittent involvement and partnership until the

16 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

actual takeover of the project.

Rarely in an Indian context, an appointment of a FM takes place at the design and execution stage, and these services are expected to come by as value additions.

Shetty says, “In most cases, there is never much scope to undo the design executed, hence, the best solution is to have a collective meeting with all stakeholders to address the case in point and derive an acceptable way forward for maintenance. However, for consequent expansions within the same client portfolio, adequate visibility and communication has been initiated to ensure design limitations are not repeated.”

Creating savings as against avoiding costs has and will continue to remain the core challenge for any organisation, until the client portfolio attains full consolidation and stability in operations. While generally large ticket items are addressed, there’s a need for smaller and progressive contributions towards overall sustainability and cost containment.

Shetty adds, “In most cases, retention of the ongoing association with clients is a measurable success for FM by itself. When expanding or adding more portfolios with the client, not bringing in an

additional FM service provider has also served as a measure of success for us, as there’s always pressure for clients to have some contingency built-in for FM service providers, in their evergrowing portfolio.”

Harnessing the benefits of technology Technology is an inherent part of any structure today. Colliers International adopts the most suitable and implementable technology interface for the installed setup, rather than just going with the best that is available in the market. Starting from requirement of logging and analysing service complaints, to monitoring and managing critical operations of equipment, the company works with many providers and explores the best among installed systems for clients; both from usage and price perspective.

Shetty clarifies that the extent of the technology interface is also determined by the joint outlook of the client and the service team, as eventually the critical step in the entire programme is reviewing trends and patterns to predict failures and ensure timely precautionary or corrective measures. The company also follows a quality management system and has derived the simplest measurable tools to determine the overall performance of facilities operations.

The way forward “Facility management has come a long way since the last decade, however, it has still not been able to come out of wriggles of cost-over-services, and currently is well-poised to embrace the next wave of change through introduction of technology and digitisation. With industry-wide maturity setting in, the wide gap between India and global service standards and costs is slowly getting bridged, driving uniformity and consistency across all geographies,” concludes Shetty.

INDIAN WORKSPACES WITH A GLOBAL EDGE.

Scan to visit our website

+91 97011 16999

contact@monarchergo.com /monarchergo

www.monarchergo.com

/monarch-ergo

Consumer Connect

Mastering the game of excellence Kotesh Jagannathan, Managing Director, Monarch Ergo, deliberates on the evolved workplace solutions in modern office and explores modern concepts that have surfaced to address these developments.

C

onstant innovation and improvement is key to every office space, and designers and managers try to conquer this aspect for delivering efficient workspaces. With the changing work culture, the pressure is on creating office furniture that increases productivity and comfort for best employee output. Monarch Ergo is at the forefront of catering to this ever-changing and constantly evolving office trends. MD, Kotesh Jagannathan sheds light on how durability, performance and flexibility of office furniture, plays a crucial role in the well-being and productivity of employees.

The story of Monarch “Monarch Ergo was born with the idea of designing and crafting

products suited for the Indian market. Over the course of two decades, since our inception, we have watched ‘the workplace’ evolve, from formal corporate setups to flexible, dynamic spaces.

“Our workspace solutions are the perfect blend of design and aesthetics, breathing life into a space that embodies the heart and soul of what you do. With our relentless quest for the perfect design and a global standard product, we have managed to proliferate the workspace solutions industry with our global creations Crafted in India “Our extensive range of desk systems, cabin furniture, conference tables and storages are meticulously designed to fulfill the needs of every office space. With

18 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

a pan Indian presence, we create workspaces that work for you and work with you.”

Kotesh Jagannathan, MD, Monarch Ergo.

Focus on well-being “Height-adjustable desks have forayed into our office spaces to aid the new workplace dynamics and make our workplaces more agile and comfortable. Allowing fluidity of movement, heightadjustable desks silently enable us in adopting a healthier day-today lifestyle. Every third project we receive, has a requirement of height-adjustable desks and this trend will only go upward with time.

“New studies show that sitting for long hours is slowly killing us, without us being aware of it.

It has been said that sitting is

Consumer Connect

Height-adjustable desk: Elevate; desk system: Affinity; cabin table: Meet and sofa: Sophia.

Height-adjustable desk: Elevate.

the smoking for this generation.

Hence, there is more focus on the well-being of the employees, resulting into a more productive and efficient workforce.

“Offices have moved on from traditional table-chair and cubicle systems to embrace all kinds of arrangements to make employees more comfortable, physically and mentally. Heightadjustable desks, soft seating and chairs with extra support for neck and back are examples of reworked furniture that support the overall well-being of employees.”

Understanding needs “Designing office furniture is no easy feat. It’s very form can have direct implications on users’ health. We believe that the best insights come from buyers and users. Hence, we emphasise a great deal on understanding individual requirements of our clients and design solutions

Desk system: Affinity

that are apt for those needs.

There is a new trend of ‘blind mockups’ in our industry. In all the ‘blind mockups’ we have participated in, our furniture has been preferred even over foreign brands, due to our premium quality and finish.”

Creating a vibrant portfolio “It is our endeavor to create products that make users work better and achieve their full potential. Our height-adjustable table, Elevate, came from that core value of constant learning.

“We have refined the system, based on the insights and data from our extensive research.

Our R&D team did breakthrough work in customising Elevate to suit Indian office requirements.

Our unwavering focus on good designs has enabled us to produce a premium quality desk which is being appreciated by all our clients.”

Strengthening core capabilities “We believe that the one aspect which matters the most is a good design. A good design is unobtrusive, honest, aesthetic, and innovative and will stand the test of time; which is why we are intently investing a great deal of our resources in R&D. Our talented pool of engineers and designers has created new and innovative products at our facility and we are in the process of getting design patents for the same.

“Monarch Ergo is one of few organisations to have a dedicated R&D department. The two aspects we are committed to are delivering ergonomic designs and maintaining premium quality. We are proud to say that in terms of quality we are at par with any global brand, and all this is designed and produced in house at our very own facility.”

Way forward “Due to the awareness of ‘Make in India’ and changing mindsets, we

are able to penetrate into more market segments. The perception about Indian products vis-à-vis imported products is changing.

“With the increase in custom duty, it will not be sensible to buy from abroad, when there are Indian products available, which are as good as the foreign counterparts. The future holds great opportunities for Indian manufacturers like us.

We are committed to provide employment and support to all sections of the society and be a pioneering Indian company in our category. Our tireless work towards creating quality products of global standards has got positive response from architects and clients. This gives us the assurance that we are doing the right kind of work and only inspires us to break the glass ceiling.”

For more details, visit: www.monarchergo.com

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 19

Trends

The workspace shift

Experts weigh in on current trends in office interiors as Commercial Design explores factors influencing and affecting workplace design

20 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Trends

W

ith the present concept of designing not just the workplace but also to influence employees, wellbeing has now emerged as a new benchmark to be met within design schemes. Examining the complexities of today’s work, businesses too are starting to understand that the main value

lies with their people.

The key to success today is providing employees with a number of diverse choices.

Experts also point out that, when designing a workplace, it is crucial to understand exactly how occupants will interact within the space; and that one size does not fit all. This is the cornerstone of what the design fraternity refers to as “insight-based” design.

“Technology has changed the way

Office landscape in India

49% 53% have no plants

have no natural light

Top five elements most wanted in the office space

Natural light (50%) Different styles of collaborative spaces are interspersed in between the work areas at Star India’s Bengaluru office, design by VPCPL.

Indoor plants (20%)

Neutral colours (18%)

Outdoor garden (16%)

View of lake (15%)

*Urban environment includes city centre, city suburb, downtown and town

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 21

*THE HUMAN SPACES REPORT BY INTERFACE

1 234 5

Trends

we work, no longer restricted to a desk or a cubicle. It’s no longer a place you go to but an activity you do. Workspace design needs to factor in this change.

Offices are no longer looked at as just a place of work, rather a strategic tool for growth, collaboration and learning. This calls for layering of space to allow and provide for different kinds of spaces responding to different activities. The challenge is striking the right balance in doing so,” states Mehul Shah, director, DSP Design Associates.

Creating value within the given space “Space management is the keystone on which all successful office interiors are built. In today’s real estate prices, space utilisation and management are the order of the day. Though, largely, space per person or area per person on the overall usable space has not changed in corporate infra

Pratyush Sarup, Spencer Interiors.

Kartik Punjabi, VPCPL.

standards over time, what keeps reinventing itself is the individual workspace and the collaborative areas with supporting spaces.

Currently, trends are not purely about density,” explains Kartik Punjabi, principal architect,VPCPL. He further elaborates on the cultural shift towards creating more informal meeting spaces for collaboration within an open office layout itself. In a bid to encourage team work, creative spaces that may be called by various names such as breakout area, informal meeting zones, collaborative spaces, and agile areas serve a

single purpose – to be inviting, funky, and infuse team work and brainstorming.

Flexibility in planning and operation with multipurpose spaces are the culture of the day in office designs. While cabin cultures have given way to open planning, remodelling, expansion and creation of different spaces within the office are routine today.

Another emerging trend that Punjabi emphasises is ‘design and build’, which has grown exponentially due to the speed with which fit-outs need to be implemented these days. Clients today are turning to design houses to implement and build conceived designs. It saves time during the bidding process and makes the design house accountable for the design. At the same time, the client can rest assured that what is visualised on paper is converted to built reality, as it is a single point of contact responsible for both design and build.

Given the importance of biophilic design, Kartik Punjabi implements the same in NTT Data Global Delivery Services’ office in Bengaluru.

22 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Trends

Vistasp Bhagwagar, AVA.

Set in an orderly chaos, the Epsilon office in Bengaluru, conceptualised by AVA, eliminates the boring sense of grid-based regimental work space planning!

Ninad Tipnis, JTCPL.

The solution is finding the right balance between convergent and divergent thinking, and having the right range of spaces and technology to support all the diverse stages of creative work.”

24 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

A country cottage inspires this staff hangout area.

Interpretations for the region’s culture, geography and urban movements deliver offices that are relevant and contextual.”

In many organisations, however, creativity isn’t bubbling up spontaneously. Most employers say their organisations aren’t creative enough and most employees say they’re not living up to their creative potential on the job, according to Adobe’s State of Create 2016 study.

Contrary to popular myth, creativity isn’t about a “Eureka!” moment that happens among truly brilliant people – it is a process in which everyone can engage, if the

conditions are right.

Ninad Tipnis, principal architect, JTCPL, echos the thought, saying: “Workplaces have evolved into unique ecosystems with each office inhabiting diversity. On a larger perspective, people are often categorised basis their creative and strategic skills.

But, diversity goes beyond the broad categorisation, which is generally focused on, for example, introverts and extroverts. It is important for designers to understand that their concepts don’t just passively affect the aesthetics but have an active impact on the functioning of a

PHOTO CREDITS: SPENCER INTERIORS

The new approach The most significant change in workplace design over the last decade has been the fact that offices are no longer defined by row upon row of desks.

Giving an example of one of his own projects,Vistasp Bhagwagar, principal architect, AVA, explains “Most designs today are based on the concept of connectivity. For a project, we designed to create the sense of ‘centrifugality’ in the plan.

It consisted of a central nucleus that housed all the essential collaborations and meeting spaces – reception, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, etc – while the radiating arms around this zone were filled with hot desks and semi-circular tables that could be wheeled and adjusted, providing an “activity-based workspace”. The design addresses every function of the business in an orderly chaos, without a dull grid-based regimental plan.”

Pratyush Sarup, head of design at Dubai-based Spencer Interiors, adds a global perspective. He says, “The office of today gathers in an endlessly adaptive ‘townhall’ setting – a clearing in the office that can double up as a yoga studio, a community theatre, lunch spot or even a party space. It is just one of a series of collision points sprinkled across the office that become impromptu hubs for interaction, community building and, if you have seriously cool co-workers, a round of Jenga.

Of course, there are endless possibilities in how one develops these hubs in the third dimension – but there too, I find a certain restraint. Themes border less on fantasy and more on familiarity.

Trends

Mehul Shah, DSP Design Associates.

diverse ecosystem.”

Yet, despite the desire to be more creative at work, majority of people don’t believe they’re living up to their potential. “The solution is finding the right balance between convergent and divergent thinking, and having the right range of spaces and technology to support all the diverse stages of creative work,” asserts James Ludwig, head of global design and product engineering at Steelcase.

In conclusion, Sourabh Gupta, charts out the importance and fundamentals in office designs:

Sourabh Gupta, Archohm Consultants.

A loft style island kitchen is the heart of a branding agency’s JLT office.

“Corporate interior design is one of the most powerful tools to express a philosophy through design to the common man.

The fundamental question of understanding the identity and the character of the company and its subsequent manifestation into the built form is an interesting phenomenon. By addressing the larger question on spatial

and visual design, its legitimacy and its power, design allows an opportunity to talk to a varied audience. It distils the company’s corporate identity for the owners and stakeholders, uniting and inspiring employees with a strong ideology as well as communicating an introduction to the company for visitors and the larger external audience.”

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 25

PHOTO CREDITS: SPENCER INTERIORS

Designed by DSP Design Associates, Microsoft transitioned its workplace guidelines to innovative workspaces with a tilt-shift towards a more residential and hospitality inductive design.

Consumer Connect

Partners in excellence Manoj Tomar, founder, AFC Systems, explores the new technologies and systems that dominate offices today

L

eading modular furniture manufacturers, AFC Systems fuses technology with design while adopting best practices with innovation and creativity.

With the eye on cost as a factor, the company delivers products that enhance a variety of decor and aid ergonomics with features such as space saving, longevity and aesthetics.

The company’s founder, Manoj Tomar shares insight into the technologies and systems used in offices.

How have workspace solutions adapted to the change in office environments?

“Links between finance and work efficiency, invention of smart technology, advancement in communication systems, etc, have created paths for designing agile, unique workspaces.

Through half of this decade, we focused on sustainability and the impact technology has in an office without much emphasis on designing for people. Now, there’s a real focus on promoting collaboration, maximising human

26 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Manoj Tomar, founder, AFC Systems.

potential, creativity, performance and productivity in the modern office. The key principles of ‘lean enterprise’ (or ‘lean thinking’ as it is known) followed are: • Define value from the customer’s perspective • Identify internal activities and processes that add value for the customer as well as identify linkages between them (the ‘value chain’) • Eliminate non-value added activities (or ‘waste’) across the organisation • Reduce waste and inefficiencies

Consumer Connect

competitive advantage through differentiation. If the buyer does not value what you are differentiating on, you still won’t create a successful product. You also need to create a premium product to justify commanding a price that exceeds the extra cost of manufacturing.”

What are the best ways to manage maintenance and functioning of an office facility after installation?

“Preventive maintenance, which is dependent on the cooperation of all stakeholders involved, is an important part of FM. The goal of such successful programmes is to establish consistent

practices designed to improve the performance and safety of the property’s equipment.

Moreover, planned maintenance of equipment will help improve its life and avoid any unplanned maintenance activity. Engineering managers must rely on the knowledge, ideas and contributions of all maintenance personnel at the property. At AFC, with the primary aim to deliver customer satisfaction, we undertake complete post-installation services required through a specific time frame.”

in support (overhead) functions These lean enterprise principles enabled many organisations to respond more rapidly to the marketplace by reducing delivery time, developing mass customisation processes, and supporting continual change and innovation.

What does creating value mean to AFC Systems?

“Creating a ‘unique’ product by choosing an attribute to focus on won’t always produce a

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 27

Focus

28 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Focus

Driving efficiency and performance Latest HVAC systems can be integrated early in the design with the help of experts and advanced technology

Curved lines in the reception area accentuate the curved concrete walls.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 29

Focus

H

VAC units are a major investment that directly affects comfort and ability. New technology makes units 20-60% more efficient than older ones, and this improvement proves positive for the environment as well as for budgets. Good ventilation is vital for circulating fresh air and protecting a building against dampness and condensation.

However, unnecessary ventilation can waste energy and cost a lot of money.

Amit Maheshwari, director for marketing and strategy, Carrier Air Conditioning, explains that it also increases a building’s energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. “HVAC systems are a must, especially in Indian buildings. In today’s competitive markets, inefficient energy management systems are almost unheard of.” He adds that architects and facility managers should include HVAC features in their design, before finalising the construction plans for buildings.

“Apart from having clarity on energy efficiency, architects should consult and involve HVAC experts, who understand the latest technologies and can implement required systems.”

Indian weather conditions make it important to take into account several factors at the outset of designing buildings (since some factors may have an impact in the near future and others in the long run) to visualise and plan for them, should the situation ever arise. Sanjay Goyal, senior VP and director, Daikin Airconditioning, says, “A building must be designed with a HVAC system, considering overall aesthetics, scalability, comfort for the user, IAQ requirements, among other factors – for it is no longer a luxury but a basic need for effective commercial building design.”

Aside from aesthetic and technological benefits,

Up to 50% of electricity for HVAC fans could be saved just by designing and installing more energy efficient fans and introducing better control strategies.”

– Nitin Bhalla, Wipro Ltd

incorporating HVAC systems in the design leaves little need for change at a later stage. “Dedicated experts, disciplined processes and advanced technology can ensure solutions integrated with HVAC systems. Sophisticated products are just a part of an overall plan designed to address these issues and concerns,” maintains Maheshwari.

Going through the complete selection process of a HVAC system, Nitin Bhalla, GM for Wipro’s facilities management group, says, “Fans use approximately 40% of all electricity in HVAC systems. Up to 50% of electricity for fans

Amit Maheshwari, director, marketing & strategy, Carrier Air Conditioning,

Carrier’s AquaForce 30XW-V features integrated controls with user-friendly colour touch screen interface with web capability.

30 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

could be saved just by designing and installing more energy efficient fans and introducing better control strategies. While there are several options, it is best to select a fan size such that peak efficiency is achieved at the most common flow rate. But fans should still be able to deliver the ‘worst case’ flow. Besides that, voltage and type of motor should also be specified in order to eliminate compatibility problems between fans and electric networks. Control strategies allow a fan to adapt airflow and/ or pressure to the needs of a system. Fans are one of the major electricity users in HVAC systems. In order to achieve good efficiency of fans after installation, it is not enough just to select best products on the market, rather it’s important to change design and selection procedure to fit such technology.”

New products Daikin introduced the VRV IV technology with VRT (Variable Refrigerant Temperature), suitable for small- to large-sized buildings.

“This technology enables greater

Focus

energy savings, as outdoor units operate up to 4.41 COP (coefficient of performance), thus reducing energy consumption levels. It also makes use of increased higher static pressure for the outdoor unit fan for greater installation flexibility,” informs Goyal. With compact size and smaller footprint, this unit enables space-saving and easy installation. Highly reliable, the addition of various advanced features ensures consistent and stable system operation of the technology.

Carrier provides highefficiency HVAC products and technology to help save energy and reduce emissions. The company’s portfolio includes several products for commercial and light commercial markets to deliver performance and environmental benefits like high-efficiency dual-compressor centrifugal chiller 19XR-E. Other innovative offers include 30XWV, VWV, which combine the benefits of traditional hydronic system

and VRF. “The issue of pollution is a major challenge as a result of urbanisation. To meet strong market demand and combat PM2.5, we launched a new air purifier and filter. Besides high energy-efficient products, Carrier AdvanTE3C customises solutions,” adds Maheswari.

There are specific vertical market solutions as well as specific system solutions that AdvanTE3C focuses on. For HVAC, the operations cost is probably more critical than the first cost; and AdvanTE3C focuses on reducing the operations cost for a quicker payback period.

Green options for HVAC The cost of energy is going up in direct proportion to the global demand. The International Energy Agency predicts that energy prices will rise by a further 17% over the next two decades. Improving how energy is consumed will not only provide immediate cost-savings but will also safeguard against energy

Eon IT Park in Pune is one of Daikin’s biggest VRV projects.

Sanjay Goyal, senior VP and director, Daikin Airconditioning,

price hikes.

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through expanding energy-saving technologies is regarded as the green alternative globally. The solution, today, is to adopt the most balanced refrigerant, HFC32.

“This next generation refrigerant, patented by Daikin, protects the ozone layer while providing an ecologically-responsible HVAC solution,” informs Goyal. “We also provide comprehensive service and maintenance guidance to clients.”

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 31

Focus The stylishly embedded air conditioning vents at Wipro’s campus in New Delhi.

Modern HVAC technology improves the energy efficiency of buildings by 30%. “This leads to an internal rate of return of 28.6% over a 10-year period, which is four times better than the yield of an average corporate bond and double the returns seen by high-performing venture capital firms,” points out Maheshwari. Most green building options cost the same or only slightly higher than conventional alternatives yet deliver significant energy savings.

For instance, new green buildings decrease operating costs by 8% over a year and 15% over five years. Therefore, over time, the argument that green is more expensive becomes invalid.

Nitin Bhalla, GM – Facilities Management Group, Wipro Ltd.

Innovations Daikin India believes that technological forwards like usage of eco-friendly refrigerants, energy-efficiency propellants and lower cost-operational units will help change the image of ACs from a costly device for summer use to a more energy- and

32 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

environment-friendly one, useful for various weather patterns.

“It is through innovations like inverter-based technologies, lower compressor ratios and eco-friendly refrigerants that Daikin India seeks to establish the AC as a multi-utility device that works pertinently as a heater, an air regulator and a heavy-duty fan, making it a pertinent investment for households,” explains Goyal.

As global leaders, the company endeavours to redefine the HVAC paradigm with innovative technologies in order to simplify life. “Designed to offer individual temperature control to consumers, VRV IV technology enables greater energy savings and more flexible system design than ever before, thus making it the most suitable HVAC technology for variety of applications,” adds Goyal. With the VRV IV technology (with inbuilt VRT), Daikin seeks to make large-scale HVAC technologies more efficient for businesses and encourages energy efficiency

while adopting positive green measures to offer essential cooling solutions.

Replacing an existing HVAC system Buildings, today, are in a constant state of churn. Infrastructure requirements are upgraded all the time but HVAC systems are often not easily changed.

“Flexibility should be the key goal of such system retrofits.

They should adapt to those changes without requiring costly alterations. As HVAC systems age, maintenance requirements increase, hence, retrofitting requires less maintenance over the years,” advises Maheshwari.

Replacement also depends on the type of system or solution existing in the building.

There are some technologies compatible with retrofits and can easily be upgraded. “However, there are solutions that solicit a comprehensive overhauling, should the demand and usage from the establishment change,” states Goyal.

Consumer Connect

Fusing power and people

Fraser Techno Circuits Limited’s MD, Madhur Somani, shares the company’s criteria, concepts, components, tools and services that help create a conducive electrical infrastructure for modern offices

Netbox Rail.

F

raser Techno Circuits Limited (FTCL) masters the domain of designing, manufacturing and marketing highest quality of power and media integrated, customised cable management solutions. The company also offers state-ofthe-art power distributions and pluggable electrical connection systems such as Power Busways and Bustrack Systems, as well

as undertakes air and surface purification, disinfection and odour control solutions. Madhur Somani, the company’s managing director, talks about how the company is addressing the various needs and requirements of offices today.

Tell us about FTCL’s products and services…

Since our inception 30 years

34 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Madhur Somani, MD, Fraser Techno Circuits Limited

ago, FTCL has always adopted a solution-oriented approach. We work with architects, electrical consultants and clients in tandem and provide ideal solutions as per project dynamics.

We offer highest quality of power and media integrated, customised cable management solutions, from A&H Meyer, for crucial connections on furniture, hard or soft office flooring, trading desks, hotel

Consumer Connect

Davis Floor Box

Netbox Axial.

Netbox Pearl.

owing to the use of technology from our German partner, Wieland Electric. Latest inclusion of surge protection devices from ZOTUP, Italy, in our product range, offers multi-patented technologies and advantages.

Being an ISO9001 certified organisation, our products as well as those from our principal partners are manufactured with highest quality of raw materials, tested and certified by various international institutions.

understand customer’s needs to provide effective and sustainable solutions. Our Flexible Bus-bar together with pluggable electrical connection systems provides unique solutions for retail projects by reducing 70% of roll-out time against conventional electrical wiring practices. It diminishes human interference as well as guarantees ‘zero’ retrieval cost as all the products can be reused in case of relocation and redesigning of layout.

rooms and other public areas, pluggable electrical connections for indoor and outdoor applications, professional power distribution systems and surge protection devices.

What are the guidelines for electrical safety?

We follow best practices and use highest quality of plastic and metal components that are approved after stringent quality control measures. Our products are designed and manufactured to offer plug and play solutions that minimise activities of electrical connections onsite, thus eliminating possibility of human error.

How do you ensure quality and standards in projects?

Our pluggable electrical connection system is absolutely fool proof,

What are FTCL’s USPs? As a standard practice, we always collaborate with all stakeholders involved in projects and

What about air quality solutions?

We are associated with the global leader in ultraviolet light mechanisms for commercial and industrial applications, BioZone Scientific International Inc., to provide air and surface purification, disinfection and odour control solutions. Recent increases in energy efficiency regulation and improvements to fire safety and hygiene have made the development of chemical free, clean technologies an imperative.

Additional initiatives such as LEED Certification and the WELL Building Scheme have increased the demand for such technologies even further.

Netbox Smart.

Netbox Style.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 35

Case study

36 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Breakthrough to excellence A glimpse into the conceptualisation and design of the ‘World’s No. 1’ office, executed by Cherry Hill Interiors in Bengaluru

BY SHREETA NAIR

M

ore and more companies are realising the real impact workplace design has on productivity and a company’s bottom line. Hence, when GE planned to consolidate its offices and conceive a new facility for the newly formed GE Digital division, the company emphasised the importance of activity-based working, where people can choose where and how they work from depending on the task and their individual work style. GE wanted the office to deliver an elevated experience of work for people, and help them achieve its strategic goals.

As specialists in LEEDcertified corporate interiors and workspaces, the execution of this detailed and strategic design for the office was entrusted with Cherry Hill Interiors. Designed

by RC Architecture, the project created a ‘living office’ with a highperforming workspace epitomising the company’s vision and journey forward. Recognising its inherent potential, the GE Digital Bengaluru office has been ranked as the world’s #1 office on the annual ‘Top 25 Most Popular Offices of 2017’ by global resource of office design, Office Snapshots.

Speaking on the prestigious achievement, Rahul Bhat, MD, Cherry Hill Interiors, says, “This reaffirms superior quality and great finesse that exceeds international standards.” And this is evident as you walk through the office space. When it comes to design development, RC Architecture adhered to current trends of office design. Understanding and acting upon the importance of the ever evolving dynamics was crucial. With more people retiring later and more Gen-Z employees starting their careers, it’s important that the workplace be increasingly cross-generational.

Design strategies today are aimed to attract younger age groups, however, RC Architecture recognised the importance of

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 37

Case study

understanding that different generations have plenty in common and that bringing these people together, each with their own experience and skills, is beneficial for organisations. Therefore, more focus was laid on factors that appeal to all employees and provide settings for different work-styles no matter the generation. It is this central concept that has been the focal point around which the entire spatial planning and zoning of spaces has been worked on and achieved successfully.

The 20,000sqm office, spread over seven floors accommodates GE Digital’s 1,500-plus employees in a space that has been designed to inculcate creativity and promote a fun and learning environment. It has different work environments from collaborative settings to individual spaces with designated zones called the living rooms. Taking off from GE’s learning that collaborative areas worked well, when the group had a sense of privacy,

38 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Rahul Bhat, MD, Cherry Hill Interiors

PROJECT DETAILS Project: GE Digital Office Location: Bengaluru Main Contractor: Cherry Hill Interiors Pvt. Ltd. Architect: RC Architecture Project Area: 20,000 sqm.

the new office was given movable privacy screens and mobile writing boards to achieve desired levels of privacy.

The dynamism of ‘urban grunge’ is achieved by high contrast in all design elements — from material selection, workplaces, lighting and ceilings to the flooring. The result was truly dynamic. The planning principles, the collaborative settings and the design language all came together to create a space that was future trending. This efficient workplace brings together a number of factors — inclusion of latest technological advances in office design; concepts of adaptable workstations and other furniture; impact of providing privacy in personal and collaborative spaces; and incorporation of interactive social spaces.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 39

Post event

In it to win it

A glimpse into the second edition of iNFHRA’s FM Excellence Conference & Awards 2017-18, held in Gurgaon

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uilding on the objectives of iNFHRA’s facility management committee of promoting the profession through recognising excellence, the association recently organised the second edition of its FM Excellence Conference & Awards 2017-18.

Of its six-city awards tour, this edition announced the results of its third and fourth destinations – Hyderabad and Gurgaon. Attended by 300+ corporate leaders and some of the biggest names in the fraternity, the edition included diverse presentations ranging from “How to build strong supplier relationship management” to

40 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

“Digital Disruption in Corporate Hospitality” as well as “Lighting Intelligence For New Age Workplace”.

The awards are India’s only jury-driven ones for the fraternity, and are being supported by CBRE South Asia, Cushman & Wakefield and Jones Lang LaSalle as outreach partners. Muttha Group, a

Post event

WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP – GURGAON Corporate Real Estate Awards powered by Muttha Group Winner: Amit Kaul, Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance First runner-up: Rahul Lal, Dalmia Bharat Group Second runner-up: Ranjan Biswas, Knight Frank India Corporate Travel, Transport & Logistics Awards powered by Treebo Hotels and Via.Com Winner: Bala Subramanian, JLL Property Consultants (India) [HCL] First runner-up: Kausar Raza, Sun Transmovers (I) & Maharaja Automobiles (I) Second runner-up: Lt Col Sharad Bhargava, Retd, Alight Solutions (Aon HR Services India) Ecological Sustainability Awards powered by Cannon Hygiene and Lithium Urban Technologies Winner: Shalender Kumar, Dell International Services India First runner-up: Capt C K Bhandari, Aviva Life Insurance Company India Second runner-up: Anil Kumar Singh, CBRE South Asia, representing Airtel (APO Circle) Innovation & Technology Awards powered by MoveInSync Technology Solutions and PIKKOL Winner: Manoj Prasad, Genpact India First runner-up: Girish Pandey, Wipro Second runner-up: Ajit Jha, Cushman & Wakefield (DLF Towers Jasola) Safety & Security Awards powered by International Housekeeping & Maintenance Services Winner: Charanjeet Walia, Ahluwalia Contracts India First runner-up: Lt Col Surinder Mohan, NEC Technologies India Second runner-up: Rahul Lal, Dalmia Bharat Group Best Project – Corporate Award powered by Arraystorm Lighting Winner: Ranjan Biswas, Knight Frank India First runner-up: Neelam Chhabra, Bharti Airtel Second runner-up: Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ahluwalia Contracts India Jury members of the iNFHRA awards held in NCR.

leading commercial developer and co-working space provider in India aimed at enhancing lives through real estate projects and philanthropy, were the Title Partners for the programme. The prominent jury comprised of industry professionals from more than 30 industry leaders from Delhi NCR and Hyderabad. The Gurgaon edition was supported

by Chai Point, CIRIL Real Estate Consultants Network, Gram Connect, Gree, Mahindra & Mahindra, Updater Services (UDS), Writer Business Services, Zeta, Commercial Design and Today’s Traveller magazine. While the one

Best Project – Architecture & PMC Award powered by Arraystorm Lighting Winner: Vistasp Bhagwagar, Architect Vistasp & Associates (AVA)

One of the winners at NCR.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 41

Post event

Jury members of the iNFHRA awards held in Hyderabad.

WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP – HYDERBAD Corporate Real Estate Awards powered by Muttha Group Winner: Aravind Mamidi, Honeywell Technology Solutions Labs (HTS) First runner-up: Vommi Kiran Kumar, Knight Frank India Second runner-up: Uday Kumar Yadagiri, DXC Technology India Speakers of the CXO panel discussion in Hyderabad.

Corporate Travel, Transport & Logistics Awards powered by Treebo Hotels and Via.Com Winner: Anand Mallepudi, Berkadia Services India First runner-up: Vijaya Kumar Manepalli, Sodexo Facilities Management Services India Second runner-up: KV Krishna Rao, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ecological Sustainability Awards powered by Maruti NEXA and Lithium Urban Technologies Winner: Venkata Ravi Kumar Vemavarapu, Capgemini Technology Services India First runner-up: Sai Krishna SVN, Wipro Second runner-up: Ramesh Kumar Valluri, Virtusa Consulting Services Innovation & Technology Awards powered by MoveInSync Technology Solutions and PIKKOL Winner: Dass Gunalan, Infosys First runner-up: Girinandan Valluri, GVK Bicosciences Second runner-up: Venkata Ravi Kumar Vemavarapu, Capgemini Technology Services India Safety & Security Awards powered by International Housekeeping & Maintenance Services Winner: Preetha Kumari, Wipro First runner-up: D Balakrishna, DLF IT Park, Hyderabad Second runner-up: Anil Kumar Munnangi, First American (India) Best Project – Corporate Award powered by Arraystorm Lighting Winner: EVK Prasanta, Invesco (India) Best Project – Architecture & PMC Award powered by Arraystorm Lighting Winner: Monica Agarwal, Team ONE Architects (India)

42 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Presentation by Muttha Group.

in Hyderabad was supported by Chai Point, CIRIL Real Estate Consultants Network, HungerBox, MCS Solutions, Mystair Hygiene, Pride Logix,Vestian Global Workplace Services, Commercial Design and Todays Traveller magazine.

The next and last leg of the awards will take it to Mumbai on February 23 and Chennai on March 14 this year.

For more information and to associate with the event, write in to support@infhra.org.

Opinion

Recalibrating workspace trends Amyas Wade, design director at Kinnersley Kent Design, shares his thoughts on prevalent industry themes

The industrial aesthetics that was ubiquitous last year, is fading out.”

D

esigning with the end user in mind has always been central to our approach and our studio’s design philosophy. As we are being briefed, we ask questions to carry out our own research to better understand our clients’ aspirations. This ensures that each project has its own unique design response, with strong principles, an expressive identity and language. Our most recent project, the Aloft Al Ain Hotel, is evidence of this philosophy, seen in the property’s interiors that embrace the spectacular surroundings of the Jebel Hafeet mountains and the Hamza Bin Zayed Stadium. While trends sound transient, there are new directions to be seen in the design industry that are brought upon by different factors.

Multifaceted hybrid spaces We are seeing a more dynamic mix of tenants in new

Rooftop pool at Aloft Al Ain hotel overlooking Jebel Hafeet.

developments with workspaces, retail, leisure and hospitality brands all co-existing and creating new communities for people to live, work and socialise.

As part of this trend, more flexible co-working office spaces are already popping up around the world.

We expect their demand to mushroom in 2018, as they help businesses become more flexible, allowing companies to expand or shrink based on demand.

Boundaries are blurring across all sectors – from retail, restaurant and hotels to leisure and culture.

This is now so endemic that new developments will evolve to accommodate this with hybrid spaces that blend retail and hospitality.

Omni-channel E-commerce is growing rapidly in the region, with giants like Amazon constantly evolving, launching drone-delivery that

caters to a tech-savvy, young population.

As the world moves towards omni-channel retail, with customers able to shop seamlessly online or offline, innovative retailers will reassess the role of their stores. Expect to see more experiential stores that communicate the brand’s personality.

Locally-inspired design More designers will explore local culture with concepts that’ll draw upon the region’s heritage and identity.

Downplaying industrial aesthetic The industrial aesthetic was ubiquitous last year and has been overplayed in the across many projects. We anticipate a move towards lighter colours and timbers, with a more sophisticated use of colour, materials and FF&E, and less adhoc combinations.

Sustainability It’s here to stay. Sustainable initiatives will become much more visible, whether through recycling waste, electric vehicles or solar power. This is already starting to influence concept design, for instance, the use of recycled or re-appropriated materials is more pronounced.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 43

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

23rd March, 2018 Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi

KNOWLEDGE PARTNER

FURNITURE PARTNER

MAGAZINE PARTNERS

EVENT BY

The objective of the 4th Smart Office India Summit, is to get all stakeholders in making and running of an office, from Developers, Project Managers, Architects, Corporate Facility Heads, IT Heads and Administration Heads under one roof, to dialogue and to debate on leveraging and implementing the best practices in office design, build, sustainability and energy efficiency.

SPEAKERS AT THE 4TH SMART OFFICE INDIA SUMMIT

Rajat Malhotra

Neelam Chhabra

Ar. Ninad Tipnis

Deepak Ohlyan

Vibhu Narayan

Deepak Uppal

Capt. Rajesh Sharma

Sameer Saxena

Jagvinder Pinny Mann

Ar. Vistasp Bhagwagar

Sanjeev Sethi

Col. Ashok Prabhakar

Ar. Niramal Mangal

Ar. Sonali Bhagwati

Chief Operating Officer, Integrated Facilities Management, West Asia, JLL

VP and Country Head Corporate Services, Reliance Jio

Founder and MD, Architect Vistasp & Associates

Head Administration at The Boston Consulting Group

President, Vatika Environ

Chief Operating Officer, India, Facilities & Asset Management Services, Knight Frank

For Speaking Opportunities Contact:

Rashmi Naicker Editor - Commercial Design Email: rashmi.naicker@itp.com Cell: +91 98200 21957 Direct: 022-6154 6041

For branding/ exhibiting opportunities please contact:

Bibhor Srivastava Group Publishing Director Email: bibhor@itp.com Cell: +91 98204 39239 Direct: 022-6154 6046

Managing Director (IFM & Asset Services), Cushman & Wakefield

Director – Global Workspace Solutions, Adobe India and JAPAC, Gurgaon

Sathish Rajendren

Founder JTCPL Designs

VP Commercial Services, NIIT Technologies

Capt. C K Bhandari DVP- Administration, Aviva India

Vice President - Global Facilities, Dell

Bhumesh Gaur

VP – Global Real Estate, American Express, Gurgaon

Region Manager, Real Estate Services, Mercer

Director of Architecture, M Moser Associates

Karthik Punjabi

Managing Director, VPCPL

Sr Portfolio Manager, Microsoft India

President, DPA

Mili Majumdar

Managing Director of Green Business Certification Institute, India Senior Vice President, USGBC

Meghna Dekhtawala Conference Producer Email: meghna.dekhtawala@itp.com Cell: +91 98197 43776 Direct: 022-6154 6005

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ITP Media India Pvt Ltd, Notan Plaza, 3rd Floor, 898 Turner Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400 050, India, Tel: +91 022 6154 6000, Fax: +91 6154 6018

Case study

SPATIAL EFFECTS Swiss Bureau designs a sinuous, refined space for financial services group, Amana Capital

BY SHALAKA PARADKAR

46 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Case study

Curved lines in the reception area accentuate the curved concrete walls.

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 47

Case study

Soft blues and greys create an inviting ambience.

A

move to new premises is an opportunity for a company to transform its corporate culture, and allow the interior design of the new workplace to reflect this change.

When Amana Capital, a financial services group, relocated to DIFC, it commissioned Dubaibased interior design firm Swiss Bureau to create a new office environment that showcased the sophisticated and versatile nature of the firm.

Across the 390sqm of recently completed interiors, Joakim de Rham, CEO and co-founder of Swiss Bureau, wanted to design the office to reflect integrity, as the word ‘amana’ translates to ‘integrity’ in Arabic. He says, “The idea of unity and cohesion stays true to the brand’s essence, and the concept further evolved from the company’s logo, which in many

Joakim de Rham, CEO and co-founder of Swiss Bureau, wanted to design the office to reflect integrity, as the word ‘amana’ translates to ‘integrity’ in Arabic.”

48 | March 2018 | Commercial Design

Subtle lighting for a seating nook.

Case study

Framed glass partitions add to the light and open feel.

White concrete walls in the meeting room.

Custom designed boardroom table in the irregular shaped meeting room.

ways can be interpreted as the ‘solidarity of unison’. The curved walls and the sweeping lines of the flooring and ceiling through the space create a sinuous architecture that echoes the brand’s identity.”

The material palette combines warm wood with brass and chrome accents in the furniture and lighting, while the colour scheme uses greys, blues, white and soft taupes to create a comfortable and inviting environment. Black framed glass partitions create a simple pure form, with strip lights highlighting the curves.

De Rham says his favourite design feature is the curved wood and the asymmetric curved

Decorative pendants add a stylish note.

gypsum ceiling at the reception, which complement the carpet lines on the floor and accentuate the curved white concrete walls.

The office has an open, bright, and modern feeling, owing to the open-plan layout, with workstations situated along the windows and glassed private offices. Senior executives enjoy the best views, looking out to the DIFC precinct.

Their offices are furnished with contemporary soft lounge seating.

For the unconventionally shaped boardroom, Swiss Bureau customised a table to match the footprint of the room, which is flanked by back-painted glass and wood walls. The meeting rooms have white concrete walls with

a dark vinyl flooring, light chairs, a glass table with customised chrome legs and decorative pendants. Some of the key suppliers for this project included Shaw, Goodrich Global, Floor Expo, Interior 360, Cubes&co and Matteograssi.

“One of the challenges we faced at the design stage was carefully balancing the lines – in order to keep it subtle and not too overpowering,” says Kamsin Mirchandani, senior architect at Swiss Bureau. “During construction, it was important for these curves to be executed with precision to create an uninterrupted flow, which has been accomplished elegantly.”

Commercial Design | March 2018 | 49

Products

New on the market SILQ

F

or the newly launched chair, Silq, Steelcase designers and engineers, through an innovation in materials science and a patent-pending process created a new high-performance polymer material that emulates the qualities of carbon fiber at a mass market price. This material, combined with the sensuous curves of the design, allows Silq to respond to natural movements of the human body without the mechanisms typically required in high-performance seating, designed for the workplaces. The result is a chair that behaves more like an organism than a machine – a new archetype in office seating.

Website www.steelcase.com

BETWEEN SOFA

T

he Between sofa, designed by Sara Polmar for Danish furniture brand Bolia and American workplace furniture producer, Steelcase, is a reinterpreted hybrid between a sofa and an armchair for a softer office environment. Bolia’s stylish and contemporary pieces are embedded with a passion for Nordic design traditions, sustainable materials and high quality craftsmanship.

Website www.ofisme.com

ALWAYS LOUNGE CHAIR

A

n easy form for an easy chair, the Always Lounge chair hides its complexity well. A careful combination of shapes has created a lounge chair that is comfortable and looks great from every angle. The Always lounge chair is available with four different base styles. Being an upholstered product, it can be customised to suit any space.

Website www.naughtone.com

50 | March 2018 | Commercial Design