Alfa-Meli SDN BHD was established in 1976 as a private limited company registered with Petroliam Nasional Berhad and the Ministry of Finance. Its located in Menara Suezcap1, Kuala Lumpur. The company offers services such as hospitality, consultancy and software solutions. The company’s slogan to ensure that they deliver top notch services is that “In the hostile environment of the South China Sea, a tired man coming off a twelve-hour shift needs fresh laundry, clean comfortable quarters and most importantly a good meal”
The office incorporates the main program functions along the façade, maximizing the natural light and filtering the light in the circulation zone. The office highlights the values such as collaboration and sustainability, all while creating a space geared for its end-users. Designed with an open floor plan layout throughout the space to create a welcoming work environment including a break out area- from small, individual-style standing to huge area in the pantry where they could hold brainstorming sessions, it features clusters of green plants in the work stations to brighten up the office more.
Spatial Design
Ideally, the office space is schemed with an open-plan approach to create a brightly-lit and warm ambience for the end users. First off, the spaces are articulated based on the nature of the business (as mentioned above). Two – the spaces are defined according to zone areas with the notion of maximising its natural lighting while light is filtered through its circulation. The daylighting and lighting systems are designed in such a way to increase the occupants’ alertness and promoting sleep. This theory could be concluded through the installment of large windows providing a visual connection to the outdoors.
Clearly, the position of the reception counter plays its role of greet and meet at the frontline of the office space. The waiting lounges pleasantly filled the remaining spaces within the ledge. As one walked on towards the east wing of the workspace, the meeting room’s cubicle stopped one’s track for discussions alike. At right at the end stretch the room, holds the company’s accountant workstations, documents and data. Allocating a filling room has definitely placed the companies’ need at ease, where the darkest end of the room is chosen to neatly tucked away substantial and confidential documents.
On the contrary, the workstations situated on the west wing of the office are aligned for users who would spend most of their time in the office. The penetration of sunlight from the facade view is assuredly benefited for a well-lit setting. Glass walls are utilised as an aid for channeling light within the room. Concurrently, they allow visual access, granting not only an upscale contemporary look but to divide designated zone areas.
Comfort
More than just a nine-to-five hub, the office is pictured a dynamic workspace to suit and gratify the users. Hence, an inviting communal space like the pantry area is outlined for welcoming clientele and guests to feel hospitable besides hosting the employees’ break affair.
Strategically, it is located right at the centre to encourage different companies for mutual interactions and establishing an inclusivecommunity within the office. The bar counter top serves as the designer’s inventiveness of a modern-day office pantry cum workstation, where one could just stand and work for a change.
Since lighting is primarily considered, the amount of lighting is analysed to reduce any form of straining while staring on electronic screens. Not to mention, the room acoustics of the meeting room is padded to reduce airborne and impact noise sources. This significantly reduces the possibility of sound travel, therefore withholding confidential conversations within the room. Lastly, tabletop planters are used as dividers apart from improving air quality.
Aesthetics
With simplicity in mind, the selection of colours is used to exude the office’s aesthetics. The royal blue certainly injected a more upbeat tone to the muted, neutral environment; giving it off a fresh, compatible contrast. Besides that, the light-toned timber strips rhythmically backdropped the registration counter as well as the pantry’s. Despite its soundproof functionality, the neon green sound panels in the meeting room are proudly arrayed, displaying the company’s brand logo. Brain storming sessions and somber meetings can be motivational with a play of words mounted onto the exterior section of meeting room.
Innovation
Offering convenience during break time, the pantry’s bar counter is incorporated with charging portals that pop in and out of the table operating as a charging station. Furthermore, the novelty of electromagnetic protection glass at the managing director’s cubicle allows daylight to brighten up the room. When privacy is needed, it is just a button away to frost the glass panel. The versatile table dividers have a dual functionality of sustainably containing the vegetation and presented as minimal storage solution for the employees.
Realisation Efficiency
Aesthetics and comfort goes hand in hand with practicality in design. As the matter of fact, the design team has redesigned the air conditioning and lighting system with the intention of conserving energy. These systems are wired, segregated and labelled according to zone areas, allowing the switches to be maneuvered efficiently. Operated by a light simulation programme, lighting levels are regulated and thermal study is tabulated for comfort.
A comfort survey was done to identify the level of satisfaction of the occupants in their new office space. An infographic detailing the results from a survey can be found here.
