INHWA OFFICE
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The INHWA business center is a flagship co-working space by Affordable Infrastructure and Housing Projects Pvt. Ltd. The client desired a luxurious, flexible and functional space, adherent to the highest international standards in specifications and ambiance. Unlike offices tailored to the needs of a single user, INHWA business center was to cater to a range of users thus demanding flexibility and diversity in design. The design team interpreted the brief as not just a premium office space but as an integration of work, space and hospitality. Since multiple entities were required to share space without intrusion, the reception, cafe, circulation and meeting areas formed the public component of the program whereas the business suites formed the other relatively more private components. The project demonstrates the power of space in establishing a brand identity.
The material palette emphasizes wood and stone. The stress on natural materials was with a twin focus of firstly, combining luxury with robustness and secondly, creating an aesthetic from the combination of their natural textures with high quality craftsmanship- intrinsic to Asian design. Wherever used, the natural grain of pine wood and granite stones has been retained. Glass and steel, especially in the reception area, is strategically placed to juxtapose with natural textures. The colour theme is muted, soothing and warm. The wallpapers in shades of pastel and textures of raw silk and handmade paper allude to the Asian theme, while introducing subtle chromatic variations.
The square and triangular origami feature wall in the reception is inspired from the Chinese game of Tangram, where small geometric elements combine to form an infinite variety of shapes.
Given the Asian rooting required of the design, we drew inspiration from the origami tradition. The essence of origami is to push the boundaries of materials, in their inherent properties as well as an exploration through interaction of units of how the whole is greater than a sum of parts. This fractal geometry is intrinsic to age-old traditions of Asian design.
