Jain Group of Institutions needed a corporate office that was reflective of their reputation as one of the leading education groups in Bengaluru. As it would have many high-profile individuals as visitors, it needed to be a blend of formal spaces, luxury design, and fun meeting spaces. But all of this had to reflect hierarchy and maintaining uniformity.
Swathy Sivaraman meticulously planned the design scheme to reflect the legacy, the organisational hierarchy, and reputation of the brand while ensuring functionality and luxury. Since the space was a bare shell spread over four floors, the layout was visualized to maximise natural light coming into the space with offices placed around the periphery. The spacious layout allowed for luxurious touches without compromising on the openness. Since the design theme followed was a harmonious blend of modern luxury and functional elegance, it was extremely essential to use a combination of materials that would work as the key elements reflecting this design aesthetic.
The dynamic and formal reception sets the warm and luxurious tone with its large table with an integrated planter box, clustered seating, a central planter, and a stunning world map customised in SS gold PVD metal. In a striking contrast, the waiting area gets fun orange pop seating, a sculpture, customised wallpaper, and a console add to the prelude of an office that is a blend of formal and fun spaces.
Rich lacquered veneers and teak were used extensively for that luxurious and formal but warm feel with wooden floors adding elegance and continuity from the walls and ceilings to the floor. Plush custom-designed carpets in some key areas enhance the luxury and comfort. Pop-up colours in meeting rooms inject vibrancy to the space with a fun quotient. Customized artwork and sculptures not only play an important role in adding sophistication and enhancing the space, but also help tie the ambiance of this expansive office together.
While the two boardrooms and other meeting rooms that have been created on every floor get a unique personality with wall treatments, carpets, artwork, and complementing furniture, the glass cabins have been created using different glass textures set within metal frames, adding a touch of chic fun to the area. Even the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor cabins have received special attention with elegant seating, striking tables, custom artwork, functional storage, and display units for the right tone defining their key role in the organisation.
Since functionality was an important design focus, a clustered office layout ensured that each team sits outside their respective mangers' cabin, making it easy for collaboration and dialogue. This ensures efficient use of space and better workflow. Interestingly, the two Boardrooms on the ground and first floors, act as a focal point and powerhouse where important decisions are taken, and hence, were strategically placed in the centre of the floor, for easy access and prominence.
The Chairman's cabin on the first floor is a real jewel in this luxurious design scheme. As the head of the group, his work suite needed to elude luxury, functionality and comfort. A beautifully grained, luxurious Volakas marble floor with fluted marble wall panels creates the perfect backdrop for the striking lacquer and leather table and leather high-back chair. The anteroom, that is separated from the work area by arched metal and fluted glass partition, houses an exquisite marble top dining table, suede sofa in the waiting area and a blend of wooden floor for that thread of continuity.
Swathy has also integrated biophilic elements by incorporating natural elements such as plants, natural light, and organic materials to create a healthier and more productive work environment. With the idea of bringing the outdoors inside and promoting the wellbeing of employees, she has brought in a lot of greenery into the space, right from the reception through to the cabins and workstations, which use planters as dividers, to enhance vibrancy and energy. A deserving mention here, would be the glass planter box of the ground floor Boardroom that is not just a biophilic feature but becomes the focal locus of design flow on this floor.
Though achieving all that they set out to was not an easy task, as a maximalist design studio, Storeyboard's design language is characterized by a seamless blend of modern luxury, bold design elements and functional elegance. By focusing on using high-quality materials in the right combination, the team has created a balanced environment in the JGI Corporate office that is both luxurious and functional, modern yet warm, and professional while being unique. This office design goes beyond typical corporate spaces, offering a unique blend of sophistication, creativity, and comfort.
