Glittering prize - These sleek offices were designed by Mirage International

Creating an office environment that answers all the needs of a company is the goal of any interior or spatial design expert. But when those needs range from housing 60 full-time staff plus those visiting from overseas to providing open-plan entertaining space for 250 within the same footprint, you could be forgiven for thinking that your client was asking the impossible.

"We were approached by the client, who had already selected the office location, to transform the existing space into a quality environment that would reflect its status as the Asia headquarters," says Mirage International principal Desmond Tan. "The client required a flexible and spacious contemporary interior that would complement its global corporate identity, and be suitable for hosting functions for a minimum of 250 people."

The offices are situated on the two topmost floors of the Maybank Tower in Singapore and enjoy expansive views of Marina Bay. To ensure the view was maximised, Tan and his team designed a largely open layout, which meant removing many of the existing interior walls. The result has been the establishment of a visual axis that begins at the lift lobby and continues throughout the office space.

"Developing a coherent spatial vernacular across both levels was integral to the success of the project," says Tan. "The Maybank Tower is a very narrow linear building; therefore it was imperative to create a sense of spaciousness, borrowing from the panorama through the use of high-gloss finishes and glazed panels."

Aside from the narrow footprint, the ceiling height was also of concern, being only 2.7 metres. A series of layered elements comprising different high-gloss materials helps trick the eye into perceiving extra height, assisted by the reflections cast across the ceiling.

"Through a dramatic orchestration of overlapping planes of materials such as clear glass, high-gloss white acrylic, off-form concrete and highly reflective dark exotic wood, we have given the spaces an identity that sets them apart from conventional offices," says Tan.

Another aspect setting the project apart from the norm is the adaptability of the spaces. Traditional workstation partitions have been replaced with glass screens that, along with the workstations themselves, can be removed. This feature answers the other part of the brief, because once these are gone, the office becomes a ballroom-like space, ideal for entertaining large numbers of guests.

While maintaining the open nature of the design, privacy has not been compromised, and elements such as the fully detached meeting and conference rooms act as a demarcation between the public and private spaces.

"The conference room in particular is an important element within the design scheme, both reinforcing the underlying seamless integration and reading as a separate entity," says Tan. "Placing the room on a raised platform with concealed lighting beneath, allows it to be read immediately as distinct, yet the glazed wall permits a commanding 270° view of the bay and finance district.

"The interior of this penthouse office suite is exquisitely simple, ultramodern yet functional, with seamless flexible spaces that transform the work place into a haute couture-style work environment.

"The organic form responds to the client's design programme and the overall building plan, and offers clarity of space," says Tan.

Story by: Justin Foote