THE CONTEXT :

Limited space: Mumbai is a densely populated city, and land is at a premium. As a result, any solution needed to make the most efficient use of the available space, with careful consideration given to the placement and arrangement of spaces and open spaces.

Noise pollution: Kurla, Mumbai is a bustling suburb with a high level of noise pollution.

Safety and security: As with any urban area, safety and security were paramount concerns

Cultural diversity: Mumbai is home to people from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds, and it was important for the design of the university to take this diversity into account. The design needed to be inclusive and culturally sensitive, incorporating elements from different cultural traditions and respecting the diversity of the university’s student body.

By taking into account the unique urban context of Mumbai, Alcove Designs designed the interiors that considered the needs of the students, faculty, and staff while also being sustainable, inclusive, and supportive of the local community.

THE BUILDINGS :

RETROFIT : to adapt to a new purpose or need: MODIFY

Our task was to retrofit 2 commercial buildings. One building housed the academic functions and the other building catered to student living

THE BRIEF :

The brief was short but complex – designing spaces within 200,000 sq ft. distributed over 10 floors + 3 basements to meet the unique needs of all students that will not only benefit their academic and personal experiences, but also shape their world and enrich their lives.

APPROACH: DESIGNING FOR EDUCATION

Accessibility :

Educational resources and environments should be accessible to all learners, regardless of ability or disability. We needed to consider the needs of learners with visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive impairments and create spaces that were inclusive and equitable.

User-centered design :

Prioritizing the needs of teachers and learners when creating educational spaces was key to ensure that the design stayed relevant and effective.

Flexibility :

Educational environments and resources need to be flexible enough to accommodate a variety of teaching and learning styles. We considered the different modalities of learning that were adaptable to various contexts.

Engaging design :

Educational environments need to be visually appealing and engaging to learners. with the use of colour, typography, and imagery to make learning more enjoyable and effective.

Scalability :

To accommodate a large number of learners, our solutions needed to be scalable. considering how designs could be replicated and scaled to reach a wider audience.

Pedagogical alignment :

We ensured that we were aligned with pedagogical theories and principles. This involved understanding how people learn for us to create effective learning outcomes.

Overall, designing for education is a challenging but rewarding process. By considering the needs of teachers and learners and aligning our designs with pedagogical principles, we wanted to create environments that facilitated effective teaching and learning.

DESIGN OBJECTIVES :

Providing community :

The design was to reflect a true home-away-from-home. No matter how far into their education students are, community-building amenities are highly sought after. A well-designed student space strikes the perfect balance between privacy and community while teaching students how to live away from home for the first time.

Efficient space utilization :

The buildings were constrained by limited space, so it was essential to make the most of the available space. This was achieved by using multi-functional spaces, such as classrooms that could be easily converted into meeting rooms.

Green spaces :

Urban areas can be stressful and busy, so incorporating interior green spaces, provided for a calming and refreshing environment for students and staff to enjoy. Green spaces also help to improve air quality, mitigate heat, and reduce noise pollution.

Natural light :

Natural light is essential for creating a working and comfortable environment. The incorporation of natural light by using extensive glass facades, emulating skylights, and glass walls to allow daylight penetration deep into the building.

Technology integration :

Technology is critical for modern learning. This included high-speed Wi-Fi, multimedia equipment, interactive whiteboards, and charging stations.

Cultural representation :

The student and faculty represented diverse communities, so it was important to incorporate design elements that reflected the cultural heritage and identity of the city and students. This can included using local materials, colours, and artwork, and designing spaces that were culturally sensitive.

Safety and security :

Safety and security was a primary concern. This was achieved by designing spaces with clear sightlines, good lighting, and emergency exits, as well as using advanced security systems and surveillance equipment.

Comfort and ergonomics :

The interior design needed to provide for comfortable and ergonomic spaces for students, faculty, and staff. This included an appropriate seating, lighting, and ventilation to ensure a healthy and conducive learning and working environment.

Flexibility and adaptability :

The space allowed for flexibility and adaptability to meet the changing needs of the university over time. Spaces were designed to accommodate future growth and changes in technology, teaching methods, and curriculum.

Sustainability :

Our endeavour was to be environmentally sustainable, using materials and systems that reduce energy consumption and minimize the impact on the environment.

Cultural and aesthetic considerations :

The cultural context of Mumbai and the university community needed to be reflected, while also providing an aesthetically pleasing environment that inspired learning and creativity.

Cost-effectiveness :

The interior design needed to be cost-effective, utilizing materials and systems that provided value for money while meeting the needs of the university community.

Classrooms :

The classrooms maximized the use of space and accommodated different learning styles. Considering the layout of the classroom, the arrangement of desks and chairs, and the use of multi-functional spaces optimized the utility of the available space.

Acoustics :

The acoustics of the classroom ensured that the sound quality was appropriate for lectures and discussions. Materials that absorbed sound were used to minimize noise and create a more conducive learning environment.

Lighting :

The lighting in the classroom was carefully considered to provide adequate illumination for learning and to minimize eye strain and fatigue.

STUDENT HOUSING :

Comfort :

Features included comfortable beds, chairs, and desks. Also, students were given the option of personalization of their spaces.

Storage :

Adequate storage solutions provided to ensure that students keep their belongings organized and easily accessible.

Community areas :

The community areas serve multiple purposes and accommodate a variety of activities such as studying, socializing and relaxation. It was also essential to offer various seating and table options to allow for flexibility in the design and utilization of the spaces.

By considering these factors,  we attempted a design to create a welcoming and conducive learning environment that meet the needs of students and faculty while reflecting the identity and culture of the institution and the city. We hope that by creating a supportive and inspiring environment, students can thrive academically and personally.

The traditional workplace layout is dead. The future of work now looks significantly different. Companies now have had to adapt to the sudden shift to hybrid work.

What does the future of work looks like ? What do employees expect ? This has changed. There has been a rapid transformation in workplace design to accommodate the fast-paced changes and evolving needs of today’s modern hybrid workforce.

This is because the office is no longer just a workplace.

The process of creating a successful hybrid workplace design must be guided by information about what works and what doesn’t.

This information needs to be gathered under 3 simple heads

● What the business needs
● What the user needs
● What the design wants

Hybrid Design solutions that are backed by this information tend to be more successful as they

● understand the target audience
● reveal the users’ pain points and opportunities
● Give opportunities for new trends
● Improve designs by adding objectivity.

Following this design process, provides healthy guidelines to ensure that the workplace meets user, business and design needs. It offers solutions that are unique and relevant.

With the use of modernized technology – hardware and software, we at Alcove now give our clients an opportunity to have a real life experience of their spaces in a virtual world that would be similar to the built real.

These immersive 3D experiences eliminate the inconveniences of production, shorten the feedback loop, and give us more time to design.

So, how does this benefit clients more when compared to traditional digital design software?

For one, our clients have the opportunity to make changes on the fly. If they see a colour scheme they don’t like, they can use our virtual reality design software to make changes on the spot.

The end-result is that the client gets to visualise the spaces we create. Plus, the changes they make get recorded. So, not only do we have happier clients, but we also have a better record of what the client wants from the project.

With this individual experience our clients get more out of our designs.

Demo video of the 3D visualization tool showing real-time design changes in a project.

We can put our client right in the middle of the model and let them explore. This simulated “world” offers a much more accurate representation of what we are going to create for them in real life. They can feel and explore the space, rather than trying to imagine it. It easier for clients to spot issues that need to be addressed. As a result, we spend less time trying to figure out what’s wrong with the model, plus we don’t end up ploughing ahead on a design that our client doesn’t like.

VR isn’t just for displaying your models to clients. It’s a tool that can be used throughout the entire design process. From design through to construction, VR helps us to make things more efficient. This saves time and money. However that’s not the only benefit. The potential for using VR for training is immense. With the proper application, VR can help us create safer and more efficient workspaces. The long-term benefits of this practice speak for themselves. Fewer mistakes means less time and money spent on fixing the sort of issues that can delay projects.

The use of virtual reality design software ensures that we stand out from the crowd and leave our clients wanting to see more.

What is Biophilia?

The natural environment has always drawn humans in, made them dependent on it, and intrigued them. Biophilia, which literally means “love of life,” is the theory that our interest and communion with nature stems from an underlying, biologically-driven need to engage with other living things like animals and plants.

The title of Stephen R. Kellert’s book, “Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life,” describes it best.

Understanding Biophilia, its Importance and Benefits.

The human need to connect with nature and other life forms is known as biophilia. Nature’s potential to benefit people includes having an impact on our mental health, hobbies, trips, even homes, and offices. If biophilia benefits people, then increasing our distance and alienation from the natural world in terms of urbanization, technology, and other advancements could have severe consequences on our well-being.

Stress rehabilitation is defined as uninhibited access to nature that promotes good aura and benefits one’s well-being. It is supported by certain desirable natural characteristics such as light, vegetation, water and natural structures, textures, and vistas).

Elements under Biophilia design.

Organic resources, natural sunlight, foliage, views of nature, cultural associations, and experiences are some of the most popular features in current spaces. Biophilic influences also include Environmental features, Natural shapes and forms, Natural patterns and Processes, Light and space, Place-based relationships and lastly Evolved human-nature relationships.

Thermory explains the 6 primary biophilic design principles as follows:

Environmental features

Using characteristics of the natural world in your built environment. These can include color (i.e. earth tones), water features, sunlight, and actual vegetation in your design.

Natural shapes and forms

Representing and using shapes found in the natural world, such as botanical motifs, columns, ovals, arches, shells and spirals, animal motifs, and biomimicry (the imitation of living things). Right angles and straight lines are the direct opposite of this and are rarely found in nature.

Natural patterns and processes

Incorporating natural properties (as opposed to representations) into your design. This complex, nuanced principle focuses on varying the sensory experience with transitions and complementary contrasts with things such as central focal points, patterned wholes, and clear boundaries.

Light and space

Light makes life possible. This principle focuses on the use of light within a space, such as natural light, diffused light, shadow, spaciousness, spatial harmony, and inside/outside space.

Place-based relationships

The marriage of culture and ecology is rooted in the human need to establish territory. This principle includes aspects of unique connections to place, indigenous materials, landscape orientation and ecology, and avoiding the monotony of “placelessness.”

Evolved human-nature relationships

This principle focuses on the inherent relationship between humans and nature. These environmental values include aspects that foster self-esteem, aesthetic attraction to nature, exploration, and discovery, fear and awe, and spirituality.

Biophilia in interior design

“There is rarely a solution that is universal. Rather, the ‘correct’ solution, in our view, is one that is locally appropriate and responsive to the situation at hand.”
– Rachel Kaplan, Stephen Kaplan & Robert L. Ryan, 1998 WITH PEOPLE IN MIND

Considering nature as a design driver––rather than just another tool––is a must. Although it is crucial to deliberately incorporate natural components in an aesthetically pleasing manner, nature must take precedence over design. As a result, rather than asking, “How can we enhance this space with natural elements?” one may alternatively question, “What natural aspects are crucial for such a space?” More biophilic demands are met when nature arrives first, and the surroundings appear more organic. Nature should not appear to be plugged in at the last moment.

Mother Nature, like any human designer, maintains – form follows function. The objects in the natural world appear the way they do purely because of what they are for, albeit for excellent reasons.

“Harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well-integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition” architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said. He implemented what he advocated, particularly with his most renowned creation, the Falling water home.

The architecture of Fallingwater reminds us that the finest examples of biophilia really aren’t simply concerning adding greenery to our surroundings, but it is also about creating a space that is in harmony with nature. So when it comes to workplace design, that also implies harmonizing with human nature.

Biophilia within the workplace

What are the benefits of biophilia to the individual workers and the organization? Biophilic experiences can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance mood and creativity. These and other outcomes can increase health and wellbeing, as well as productivity.

Biophilic encounters can also diminish pressure, work on intellectual capacity, and upgrade disposition and inventiveness.

Amazon has built an office that houses 40,000 plants, as well as its many employees. Opened earlier this year, it was designed as a rainforest-like space to inspire creativity and foster a community-based culture.

To improve the workplace environment, several workplaces use the pattern – Visual Connection with Nature. The goal might be to increase vistas and introduce plants into the workplace; interventions could include building a green wall, repositioning workstations to optimise views to the outdoors, or instituting a desk plant for employees. The specifics, location, and amount toward which each of these interventions is performed will vary with the office background and its spatial requirements.

The future of Biophilia

Positive settings are just that – they have a positive influence on the individuals who use them. As even more organizations reconsider the direction of the workplace, one factor is certain: supporting employee well-being would be critical.

Every firm has indeed been forced to reconsider how it works, how it cares for its people, and how it might deal with the enormous cultural shift ushered on by Covid-19. Technology has enabled an increasing number of employees to work remotely, causing the least amount of disturbance as possible; while some were forced to implement rigorous precautions, ranging from mask-wearing to social distance, to ensure employees are working in safe surroundings. This newfound approach has had a significant influence on human mental wellbeing.

This however has presented offices with an opportunity to reimagine the spaces where we work. We may witness a movement in how corporate spaces are utilised and built, with a focus on employees as a community rather than simply a workforce, providing a trend out from utilitarian environments towards a more collaborative workspace with a higher focus on creative thinking. It is essential that we begin to grasp how our physical environment influences our mental wellbeing; then again, positive spaces yield positive results.

Organizations may accomplish this by implementing and introducing biophilic design. Biophilia in interior spaces is important and necessary now more than ever with escalated discussions about the use of nature and natural patterns at the design planning stage resulting in vaulting from relative obscurity to the frontline of the corporate design in a matter of months.

Biophilia is no longer an aesthetic feature but a well-being necessity.

Here are 10 pointers to assist you with this massive shift.

COVID-19 has presented the world with unprecedented global humanitarian challenges.
Many businesses around the world were forced to take a range of approaches, acting swiftly to protect employees and transition to a new method of operating that even the most stringent business-continuity plans had not anticipated. Leaders across industries are now using the lessons learned from this large-scale work-from-home experiment to creatively and boldly reimagine how work tasks are completed and how the role of offices would now play out.

Hybrid Work

Creating a hybrid work plan for any organization requires a flexible operating model spanning people, places, and processes. To help people thrive, organizations would need to rethink the entire employee experience—from creating culture to attracting and retaining talent, while building privacy-backed systems.

Rajiv Sodhi, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India, said, “If we have learnt one thing in the last year, it’s that we are no longer bound to traditional notions of space and time when it comes to how, when, and where we work. The Work Trend Index findings attest that remote work has created new opportunities but there are challenges ahead as well. We believe hybrid work is the future, and a successful hybrid strategy will require extreme flexibility. As every organization fundamentally reimagines itself for the hybrid work era, we are collectively learning and innovating on how we will shape the future of work in India. It’s time to embrace work as a frame of mind, not a place you go.”

The last year has fundamentally changed the nature of work and shows that we are on the cusp of workplace disruption. The Work Trend Index study revealed the following trends among the workforce in India:

Each of us have preconceived notions of what a quintessential office should appear like: a combination of private offices and cubicles, with meeting spaces, cafeterias, and shared facilities. While offices have evolved in some ways over the last ten years, they now may need to be completely redesigned and transformed in a post–COVID-19 future.

Since there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all answer. The responses to office design will fluctuate depending on the company, what skills are required, which positions are most vital, and how much teamwork is required for success.

On analyzing this further, the correct floor arrangement for a company can maximize space while enabling employees to perform their best work in a safe environment. Depending on the office’s work styles and functions, one technique may be more productive than others while in some cases a combination of arrangements might work best. So here are some ways your floor layout could adapt to how your employees operate.

Hot Desking

If a significant portion of the companies workforce is not in the office daily, flexible seating methods are essential. Providing employees the choice to reserve a desk when they wish to come in is now an increasingly common office floor plan concept, especially with offices running at decreased capacity owing to COVID-19 requirements. In this situation, office users may reserve a desk for the day, tidy their workstation upon use, and carry with them all personal things at the end of the day.

Assigned seats

If you have enough floor space to maintain social distancing for all of your operations, the conventional desk assignments may provide your employees with the assurance of having a secluded area within the workspace. In this arrangement, each individual becomes responsible for the upkeep of their desk space.

Neighborhoods

When employees collaborate on a frequent basis, one strategy to reduce the spread of disease in your workplace is to designate sections for each of the departments or teams via socially separated floor patterns. Such specified areas, often known as “neighborhoods,” might be centered around the teams, responsibilities, and/or work engagements. Cohorting may reduce the number of individuals that each particular member of the team sees each day, which could be important for contact mapping in the case of an infection.

Desk pods

Although plastic shields provide a barrier, they may be detrimental to collaboration and teamwork. Several businesses utilize desk pods to enhance overall safety and interaction. Desk pods enable 3 – 4 people to communicate all the while maintaining distance.

Desk distancing

Adding new features to workstations, such as taller screens, can assist. Alternatively, if space is not an issue, practicing physical distancing, organizations could place desks apart and eliminate seats or block desks. Managers may speak to their staff well about the necessity of social distancing, but instead, a workplace floor plan that favors it is far more successful. Several companies are switching desks and workstations so that they face away from one another, making it simpler for workers to keep their distance.

Smaller Conference Rooms

To enable hybrid teams wherein a few members are working remotely and the rest are working out of the office, “Video meeting rooms” could become another fixed requirement in a post-Covid workplace. A few businesses are already allotting rooms or transforming smaller meeting rooms to accommodate video calls.

Wayfinding to help maintain distance

While signage is primarily used to assist in the entire user journey through a space, in a  Post COVID workspace wayfinding and signage can now be used to guide and educate employees in exercising social distancing. Floor and wall signs showing you which direction to go, where to wait, or how far away to stand, all while ensuring easy access to handwashing facilities or sanitizer, especially at ‘high-traffic areas can easily be incorporated.

In a time where companies with an aim to grow productivity and make sure their employees are well taken care of, are now more than ever striving to provide their staff with safe and holistic spaces to work out of.  This includes safe distancing well-sanitized spaces, focusing on materials used, biophilia, and colour.

Biophilic Design in the Post-COVID Office

There is a greater emphasis now, on including biophilia as part of the initial design phase rather than as a last-minute add-on or plug-in. Companies are considering the many ways in which a post-COVID workplace can embrace both physical and mental health. Awareness of quality of air, artificial and natural lighting, and acoustics will remain critical moving forward.

According to designers, the pandemic has encouraged companies to remodel workspaces to replicate nature, offer improved air filtering systems, and incorporate environmentally friendly materials in the design of the space.

Introducing biophilic design and, more broadly, the notion of incorporating the therapeutic effects of nature indoors has now become the norm.

Use of colour in the workspace to enhance productivity

When it comes to colour psychology artists and interior designers have long believed that color can dramatically affect moods, feelings, and emotions.

Pantone which is attuned with current affairs and picks colour of the year, for the year 2022 they picked the colour 17-3938′, ‘very peri’ which is a blend of blue and red hues, encourages ‘personal inventiveness’ and ‘creativity’. Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute said, “The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that color can hope to answer.” With the colour of the year representing the “happiest and warmest of all the blue hues,” meant to symbolize transition and new possibilities, seems apt for the year 2022. Pantone

Circling back to colour psychology Blue known to have a calming effect can in turn help to improve the employees’ focus which may directly positively help affect the companies productivity and growth.

A few additional aspects that can be incorporated into the workplace are:

1. Substituting high touch with touch-free alternatives, such as motion sensors for lights, bathroom fixtures, and doors.
2. Hand sanitizer dispensers or if the layout permits, self-contained hand-washing stations and in high-traffic areas,
3. Improve ventilation
4. Rotating work days

Closing Thoughts

With employers experimenting with bringing their workers back to work, leaders must act now to ensure that workplaces are both productive and safe on their return.

Firms should also seize the opportunity to liberate themselves from the rigidity of the past by letting go of ineffective former practices and processes. A return to the workplace may be used to reimagine the position, provide an improved experience for people, that helps boost cooperation, efficiency and cut expenses. This type of change will need a creative vision based on facts. Finally, the goal of this reformation will be what excellent firms have long favored: a secure atmosphere in which people can enjoy their job, cooperate with their colleagues, and achieve the companies’ goals.

Though this global pandemic Alcove Design Consultants has been striving to initiate positive change by helping workplace design evolve. The team at Alcove is working with clients throughout India to help create safer office spaces.