We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer YOCA Pvt. Ltd. about their original and creative Office design work. YOCA Pvt. Ltd. is an award-winning architectural designer, that makes our world a better place with their original office works.
YOCA Pvt. Ltd. ("YPL") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Gul Ahmed Office. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
YPL : The inspiration in designing the Interior for Pakistan’s leading and largest textile companies Gul Ahmad, was two fold, to create a design the reflects the rich heritage of a company that has grown over three generations showing history, elegance and richness through the use of materials, while in parallel reflecting to all the inhabitants of the space how environmentally conscious the company is by creating an internalised forest and green space.
YPL : The main inspiration stems from a desire to integrate the natural environment into densely stacked urban forms. To reinstate a break from man-made materials and include a natural landscape that sits in perfect harmony within this created environment. The conference room as the central node has been created to reflect a forest. To enter or leave you must walk through a lush plantation of large trees, engulfed in delicate wood and brass lattice works around a glass cube. The interior has openness and transparency, maximizing natural light and views out from the 23rd floor. The entire interior uses glass walls with delicate lattice work to emphasize an interactive work environment.
YPL : 2 months design time and 8 months execution
YPL : The design was commissioned by the Gul Ahmed family who wanted a statement corporate head office.
YPL : There is a need in architecture and interior to deliberately integrate and represent the natural environment. It is a socially conscious responsibility that all architects should take into consideration that. That is the principle that drove us to design a forest in a corporate office- on the 23rd floor.
YPL : Auto CAD, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max and drafting materials
YPL : The Office uses unique marbles and stone, each cut / book matched articulately to emphasize key accent walls leading you into a central focal board room. The board room acts as the bridge tying the two halves of the office. The left being the director suites, the right the management workstations. The conference room as the central node has been created to reflect a forest.
YPL : Technology especially lighting technology was infused in ceilings and floor to ensure that the plants received the same degree of light they would outside in their natural environment. Humidity controls were also key in the HVAC systems to ensure a flourishing forest.
YPL : Our research was based around heritage. Designing an interior reflective of Pakistan’s historical architecture of industry and mills and translating that into a contemporary design language.
YPL : Creating a forest on the 23rd floor of an office building, while still ensuring effective office space and essential requirements for conducting business are efficiently maintained.
