Interior design for modern offices is attracting more and more special interest. Companies specializing in this field are required to meet ever stricter demands from their clients and they have to do so using a combination of technical solutions and available materials. Applying the latest achievements of technology, particularly information technology (IT) to design as well as to consult and win over clients with modern design styles is one of the most important weapons of successful companies in office interior design.
Organizing modern work space
Mr. Tran Minh Tam, Chairman of TTT Corporation, a HCMC-based company with more than 15 years experience in interior design, said: “The ultimate purpose of a modern office is to provide everybody in an organization or a company a work space that is relaxing, convenient, having a unique style reflecting the corporate culture and suitable to the business processes. Such a space must allow people to collaborate, exchange information and arrange items in the most efficient way on a reasonable surface area. Being ‘beautiful’ is the second important factor.”
According to Mr. Tam, the tendency of dividing the work space into separate functional departments having separate doors that still exists in many organizations and companies is “tearing it apart”, wasting space and costing more to operate. On the other hand, such an “ivory tower” arrangement (that is the old design) not only prevents the information from flowing among departments but also limits the supervision of the management. |
Meanwhile, companies all over the world have long adopted and applied the open space office approach successfully. In such an open office, except the meeting room, the guests room or the board of director room that require to be soundproofed and secure, all the remaining space becomes a common working space consisting of work stations for the staff, separated with low partitions.
3D perspective view of the PC World common room
by TTT architect Tran Quang Chinh; the project was done by TTT and handed over in late July 2007
Depending on the organization chart, work processes and positions of staff members, the height of partitions can vary flexibly from 1.1 meters to 1.4 or 1.6 meters. Thanks to these partitions, each staff member has a private work space but always operates smoothly and closely within a common system of the company.
Technically speaking, the partitions with technical trainking tubes also house the electrical, telephone and computer wiring systems, putting an end to the image of offices with a mess of tangling wires visible from the outside. Moreover, partitions can be used to create artistic values for each company. Companies can choose materials with different colors such as cloth, wood, or even glass.
For the past 15 years, TTT has implemented 1,500 office projects for multi-national corporations and both large and small domestic and foreign companies. All of these projects were done with the open office design style.
Facing the ever increasing demand for office space, the modern office design style is almost the only way out. “Companies have to pay at least US$20-30/square meter/month for space rentals. So they have to find an optimum solution for their rental space. TTT’s designers can “squeeze” down to 7 square meters per work station (including auxiliary works) and office workers still feel entirely comfortable. The space utility ratio at companies or organizations using the old design is usually 1.5 or double that,” Mr. Tam explained.
Going along with new technology
Mr. Nguyen Khoi, director of TTT Architects, a member company with TTT Corporation, said: “Last June, TTT participated in the “AutoDesk Solution Day” seminar held in HCMC. TTT is always the first to use new AutoDesk software to improve design efficiency and serve clients better. Of these programs, 3D MAX (allowing 3-D display) has greatly changed the way clients approach the design blueprint.”
3D image of Opera View, National Architecture Award 2007
by TTT architect Tran Khanh Trung
Most of the clients who have the need of designing a new office normally do not have much knowledge about interior design technicality. They are often surprised at the difference between the reality and what they thought their project would be. Mr. Khoi said, “If the designer only shows the clients technical drawings with symbols, lines, and perspectives, they will have a hard time, picturing how the office once completed will look like. Meanwhile, designs using 3D technology meet the need to “see” the future office even before it is built - from space allocation, light effect, to every corner and even the carpet color..." Clients can visualize the office during daylight and at night; they can check light effect, color and feel their presence inside.
For designers, 3D technology helps a lot. “Visualizing it in his head is not enough, the designer needs to see the project on the screen before arriving at designing decisions,” Mr. Khoi explained. “Every design needs harmony, decoration and optimum light arrangement. Of course, whether a design is successful depends on the architect but thanks to information technology, his job is easier and more effective.”
Mr. Khoi said, “TTT Corporation’s success in the past 15 years has always been linked to the changes and application of IT solutions and software programs. The application does not stop at designing jobs, for example with 3D MAX software I have mentioned but extents to IT programs used in management and production operations such as: Microsoft Project Central to manage the progress of design and implementation; Customer Relationship Management to manage relations with clients and especially Enterprise Resource Planning to manage and control the entire production process (TTT is one of the first companies to use ERP programs in Vietnam since 1990-2000).”
Source: http://pcworld.com.vn
By Nguyen Nhu Dung