Office interior design and refurbishment specialist Trend Group finished the 1 900 m2 design-and-build fit-out for Impact at Century City in Cape Town in a record eight weeks. “It has been completed successfully,” says Western Cape Director Lloyd Stocks. Impact’s new home is bold, playful, and completely reflective of its brand and culture.
The quick turnaround for the project isa testament to Trend Group’s one-stop design and build approach. “The benefit for our clients when partnering with us is our ability to understand and interpret their needs, and design incredible workspaces while implementing these seamlessly on time and on budget.”
Impact, a partnership management platform, turned to Trend Group for its new offices. The brief for the design intent was to be unconventional, fun, and quirky. “We used the clean industrial structure for our palette combined with art, colour, and unusual creative elements to bring the space to life,” explains Stocks. The Trend team worked closely with the Impact MD and Head of Marketing to understand the company’s culture as well as elements that would appeal to their staff.
The design concept is based on Impact’s circular logo, which is brought through in various ways from the round entrance doorway to reception, a think tank ball pit, bleacher seats, acoustic panels, and furniture. Stocks highlights that the design motif came about after the team gained an understanding of how the staff interacted and operated.
“They often huddle in teams and collaborate as groups in a ‘circle’. We also used this motif throughout the space to create soft and interesting lines. Their office space has a full view of Table Mountain, so we further used the circular motif by creating a circular tunnel leading from the waiting area into the offices, which focuses on the magnificent view,” says Stocks.
An interesting reflection on the new hybrid way of working following COVID-19- is that Impact required booths and pods to accommodate virtual meetings. “Virtual meetings have now become a common practice and the norm in most workplaces. Incorporating booths and pods in office environments has now become a necessity and not just a trend,” says Stocks.
There is plenty of natural daylight and an array of biophilic elements throughout the working areas. The bulk of the office space has glass shopfronts and magnificent views. The design intent was therefore to position the open plan desking along these perimeters to enhance the user experience by utilising natural light and taking advantage of the views. “We also incorporated a large amount of greenery in strategic areas to separate zones and soften areas,” points out Stocks.
A large breakout and open kitchen area were factored into the floor plan, becoming the beating heart of the office. The kitchen boasts a funky, modern colour palette with greenery and entertainment. This space is about bringing the team together and encouraging the culture to thrive. Employees can utilise the space to hot desk, collaborate, enjoy lunches, and so much more.
Commenting on the Cape Town market, Stocks says Trend Group has experienced consistent growth post-Covid-19. At present, the Western Cape is experiencing an influx of people migrating there from other regions. This, in turn, has led to several businesses letting more space and others opening up new offices.
