AUTHOR
Pallavi Dean
Founder and CEO
Design By Roar
- How have hybrid work models influenced your approach to workspace design?
Hybrid work models place the emphasis on the integration of technology and the creation of spaces that foster connection and shared experiences.
For instance, in a business hub we designed recently, users enjoy full access control and state-of-the-art technology in each room, making virtual connectivity effortless. One standout element of our design is a vast amphitheatre paired with large digital screens that enable the company’s community to come together.
For those in the office, we create environments where interactions and shared experiences are paramount. A day at the office should be filled with multiple interactions and collaborative events, facilitating the easy exchange of ideas and fostering a network of knowledge among peers.
- What biophilic design elements do you find most effective in improving employee well-being?
While pockets of greenery are vital for infusing interiors with a sense of freshness and connection to nature, incorporating natural and textured materials along with a warm, earthy colour palette are also impactful biophilic elements that can improve the overall mood. Rich materials such as wood panelling, ceramic tiles, and textured upholstery fabrics introduce calm and tactility to a space.
Our designs also aim to maximise natural light and thoughtfully integrate biophilic elements and wellness amenities throughout. An abundance of foliage planted around a space or hung from the ceiling gives the impression of being surrounded by nature, while natural daylight and outdoor areas create an invigorating, productive atmosphere. The inclusion of outdoor terraces provides spaces where employees can relax and get a breath of fresh air during breaks, further enhancing their well-being.
- Can you provide examples of multi-functional spaces you have designed recently?
In our studio in Dubai, we’ve created a versatile ‘Show and Tell Room’. This flexible space features folding floor-to-ceiling doors that open up to the sample kitchen and pantry, allowing us to showcase our work processes during client presentations. The room’s sliding doors can completely unfold, creating a large interactive space that seamlessly transitions during presentations. We begin in the show-and-tell room, bringing ideas to life, and then continue with a coffee break en route to the sample room, where we display chosen materials for projects.
Additionally, our studio includes a music room with wooden cladding and a record player, which doubles as a chill-out area or informal meeting space.
In our Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) project, the layout includes seminar and training rooms with sliding and folding partitions that can transform into a boardroom. This flexibility in room configurations is designed to accommodate a wide range of events and activities.
- What are some key considerations for creating inclusive and accessible workspace designs?
The key is to offer a variety of spaces tailored to cater to different personalities and work styles, from introverts to extroverts and everyone in between. This means combining open-plan zones with enclosed deep-work spaces, lounges with individual work pods, and stand-up desks with conventional workstations. Visual and acoustic privacy is essential to ensure a conducive environment for all users.
Our designs also include diverse furniture typologies to suit various uses. Dividers provide privacy while maintaining a space’s social and communal aspects, allowing it to be easily reshaped for different events and functions.
In one of our recent concepts, we introduced a ‘Staff Hub’ area that can be arranged into various scenarios—from boardroom to meeting room to training room. We consider a typical day for an employee, designing solutions for different moments, such as a coffee bar instead of a conventional reception area, brainstorming rooms and team meeting rooms for group work, a lunch room and chill-out area for relaxation, a pitch room for client presentations, and quiet areas for focused solo work.
These thoughtful design considerations ensure that our workspaces are inclusive, accessible, and tailored to the diverse needs and preferences of all users, enhancing comfort and productivity.