THE HUB - Reimagining The Modern Office

Housed within the second floor of a two-storey factory building, the 12,500 sft corporate office was conceived as a response to an otherwise stark industrial setting. Surrounded by factory buildings and barren open land, the workplace lacked any immediate connection to nature. Rather than treating this as a limitation, the design introduced nature at the very centre of the office.

An open-to-sky courtyard was carved out of the middle of the floor plate, becoming the heart of the workplace and the organising principle for the entire design. Envisioned as an urban jungle, it brings light, greenery and openness into an otherwise fully air-conditioned environment. The office, canteen, training rooms and gym/yoga spaces are arranged around it, allowing the courtyard to become a shared extension of each function rather than simply a landscaped void.

The intent was to move away from the conventional image of a corporate workplace and create an environment that feels young, informal and interactive. An open-plan layout with an exposed ceiling forms the backdrop, while cabins and conference rooms are expressed as distinct enclosed elements within the larger volume. Glazing along two sides maintains a constant visual relationship with the courtyard, ensuring that greenery remains present from almost every part of the office.

The material and colour palette reinforces this balance between the formal and the informal. Greys, whites and natural wood establish a restrained base, while carefully placed accents of yellow and blue introduce energy and personality. The result is a workplace that retains the clarity expected of a corporate environment without becoming overly corporate in character.

The main circulation spine acts as more than a passage. Different carpet colours, textures and patterns come together to create a continuous visual composition that defines movement through the office and connects the various functions. It becomes the primary axis leading towards the courtyard and gives the open-plan workplace a sense of structure and direction.