An Office For Business And Leisure
Work and hospitality come together in a space of ‘intentional mismatches’ at the Kuala Lumpur office of a property development company. Overlaid volumes, surfaces, materials, textures and colours are the basis of the unconventional workplace for the
Mantab Group, which was designed by Malaysia- and Australiabased studio S/LAB10.
The office occupies an existing bungalow on a sloping site in Bangsar. The basic structure of the house proved advantageous in the development of a series of linked yet intimate spaces that support not only the typical functions of an office, but also the hosting of clients in a social setting.
The key challenge for S/LAB10 was devising a spatial scheme that was simple in nature but addressed the divergent demands of the brief: spaces for focused work, and others for conviviality – with the cohesion of a strong identity for the client. As such, the notion of contrasts became an important design strategy.
The intentional mismatches begin on the quiet suburban street, where a gleaming facade of gold-copper alloy screens rises stoically. Translated from Malay, mantab means ‘solidity – an unshakeable integrity’. The design team likened this character to diamonds, given their multitude of impeccable, hard yet beautiful facets. Hence, the folding screens on the facade depict a variety of matte and polished triangular shapes. The screen system was also inspired by the Malaysian shophouse vernacular of folding shutters.
Inside, a sensual spatial experience awaits – far from what one would expect from a standard office interior. Shared and intimate spatial settings are carved out with contrasting shapes, materials, textures and colours. A centrally positioned conference room, for example, is defined by a set of heavy emerald-green drapes that can be drawn to one side when the room is not in use to open up the space. Around it, a colourful custom-designed shelf-and-screen system creates a changing view of overlapping translucent colours.
Throughout, spaces flow with a strong sense of discovery as one surface and material leads onto the next. Despite the residential basis of the architecture, the Mantab workplace resonates with the aura of a high-end hospitality venue – highly customised, intimate and magnetic. See more of the office on Indesignlive.sg. Photo by Heartpatrick.