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Commercial interior design is the process of crea7ng and overseeing the construc7on or renova7on of a commercial space. Involving much more than simply decora7ng the interior of the space, commercial design will address such issues as the choice of building materials, the layout and placement of interior walls, plumbing and power systems, and even coordina7ng communica7ons with construc7on professionals, owners, and service providers. This level of interior design requires the interior designer to have a solid working knowledge of architecture, as well as a sense for crea7ng func7onal and aOrac7ve sePngs within the space. To begin this subject, you will be introduced to commercial design by looking at what it is and how commercial design differs from residen7al design. Commercial design projects can be complex as you must apply certain legisla7ve and organisa7onal requirements and it usually involves a number of key stakeholders therefore it is important that you understand the commercial design process.
What is commercial design?
Areas of specialisa7on: • retail spaces • commercial offices • service providers • educa7on • childcare • healthcare • aged care • spor7ng facili7es • hospitality spaces
Commercial interiors can range in scale from a SME (small to medium enterprises) through to a vast organisa7on, such as an airline or insurance company that employs thousands of people working from numerous loca7ons. Commercial interior design requires a thorough understanding of an organisa7on’s workplace culture, branding, work prac7ces, evolu7on and contact with the public.
At the end of this subject, you will be able to: • Apply design principles related to space planning. • Recognise key elements to plan and organise the design process in order to produce adequate interiors for commercial or ins7tu7onal projects. • Apply human dimensions and ergonomics factors to develop efficient space planning. • Develop and design concepts related to commercial and ins7tu7onal interiors. • Select and specify the colours, materials andfixtures required for the project. • Carry out the sequence of work related to the project management. • Present all drawings and documenta7on for the interior project.
The design process for commercial design The ini7al research supports a thorough inves7ga7on of the organisa7on itself to establish its current posi7on and planned future posi7on in terms of spa7al design. This can include research of structure, culture, func7on, heritage, services staff, vision, market posi7on and scale. Some interior design commissions are purely func7onal; for example an expansion or contrac7on of staffing levels requiring a new site. Some however, are transforma7ve, involving a rebranding, new ownership or a significant change to work prac7ce.
It’s hard to imagine having a bad day at the office at these awesome workplaces …
Google, Sydney More like an adventure playground than a place to go to work, Google is con7nuing to do its bit for every nerd’s occupa7onal fantasies – even managing to squeeze two re7red monorail cars into its Pyrmont building last year for use as office space. Never the sort to do anything yawn-‐worthy, Google’s fun-‐chasers have also added a host of other imagina7ve features, installing an ocean-‐inspired chill out room, hammocks and a company-‐themed electric drum kit to bash out those coding dilemmas. Sydney Googlers can also hop on a tyre swing, borrow a kayak or whiz around in one of the office’s two electric cars. With so much entertainment on offer – there’s also a photography club, a Toastmasters chapter, pinball, table tennis and bootcamps – there’s probably no need leave the Google wonderland at all.
Is the process of defining the needs of those who will use the space, in advance of crea7ng the design. Without adequate programming a strong design concept may not meet the func7on requirements of the organisa7on. This phase can be broken down into three central types of ac7vi7es: gathering, analysis and documenta7on of the client’s needs and goals in a wriOen document. This becomes the basis for evalua7ng design solu7ons and the subsequent phases. Programming is cri7cal to the design process because it is here that the clients problems and goals are clearly iden7fied.
This is the brainstorming phase of the design process, where many op7ons are considered and evaluated. The goal is to gain client approval for a single design concept that will be further developed as the project progresses, and to agree on a direc7on for the character and aesthe7c intent of the project. Design can add value to commercial organisa7ons via concepts that support a more produc7ve work prac7ces, building long-‐term rela7onships with clients, collaborators and the general public, suppor7ng the branding of the organisa7on and, importantly, developing a strong internal culture, including stronger staff engagement. Effec7ve commercial design concepts oaen originate from the experience that the organisa7on wants to deliver to its staff, its clients and the public.
This is the most design-‐intensive phase of the project, in which all the design elements are developed, including floor plan layout, furnishings, fixtures, colour, finishes, ligh7ng, electrical etc. the goal is to define and gain approval of all design recommenda7ons.
Prepara7on of working drawings and specifica7ons that define the approved recommenda7ons forinterior construc7on, materials, finishes, furnishings, fixtures and equipment. At the end of this phase, the designer must communicate the design intent in an illustrated and wriOen format for construc7on purposed.
Administra7on of contract documents. Ac7ng as the client’s agent, the designer must approve the drawings and regularly visit the site during construc7on to ensure that the project is is being built according to the documents.
It is essen7al when reflec7ng on a complex commercial project that each sec7on of the project and the project as a whole are evaluated in terms of desirability, feasibility and viability. Areas of evalua7on: • quality of the concept • applica7on of the concept • ability to meet the client/brief’s objec7ves • ability to extend or enhance the client/brief’s objec7ves • originality
It’s hard to imagine having a bad day at the office at these awesome workplaces …
iSelect, Melbourne Comparison website iSelect is known for its quirky ads, but the company’s quest for individuality extends to its offices in Bay Road, Cheltenham. Coffee-‐loving call centre staff can shoot down a slide that leads outside the building and back inside to the ground floor cafe, via a soa landing in a ball pit. Mee7ngs are a carnival-‐like affair, with aOendees able to sit atop a bright orange pony or dog. It’s all part of the young company’s ethos to be able to be yourself at work. Each level of iSelect’s offices, designed by V Arc, has a faux running track around its perimeter. But if the pace gets too much, there are plenty of spaces to take a load off. There’s a sleep pod where employees can recharge for 15 minutes, hammocks, free massage chairs and an outside BBQ area where staff can sizzle all the sausages they want.
Research and analysis Research and analysis is essen7al in all phases of the design process for complex commercial designs. Ini7al research should inform the designer about the client’s industry and approaches to design within that industry. This ini7al research supports a thorough inves7ga7on of the organisa7on itself to establish its current posi7on and planned future posi7on in terms of spa7al design. The following is a list of the organisa7on requirements that should be addressed to formulate a design program. Organisa7onal • organisa7on history/heritage • organisa7on func7on • market posi7on • culture • work philosophy e.g. ac7vity-‐based work, crea7ve, ra7onalist Departmental • department func7ons • departmental adjacencies • special requirements (for example, archiving)
Research informaAon to inform the design process CompeAAve review As part of the research process, it is good prac7ce to undertake a thorough review of direct compe7tors. A review enables you to develop an understanding of what is working well in the marketplace and what is not succeeding, helping guide your design approach. A good example is the Bank of Melbourne and NAB lead to ‘open plan’ bank chambers in response to changing security systems and reduced transac7ons, with Wespac and CBA following their lead soon aaer. This highlights also that changes oaen start with the smaller players, who are more able to adapt quickly to changes in design trends. Best-‐in-‐class comparaAve review It is also important to look at the best-‐in-‐class design across a broad range of business types, not exclusively the organisa7on’s industry, to understand new trends in spa7al design, work ac7vity, as well as colours and textures. Anthropometric and ergonomic data All commercial spaces have guidelines regarding anthropometric and ergonomic requirements. Rather than being seen as restric7ons these can inspire new ways of designing for human scale ac7vity and comfort.
It’s hard to imagine having a bad day at the office at these awesome workplaces …
Atlassian, Sydney Forget Google just for a moment – and check out the Sydney offices of soaware success story Atlassian, founded by Aussie rich-‐listers ScoO Farquhar and Mike Cannon-‐Brookes. No, it’s not a brewery, but there is beer on tap. There’s also a fully-‐stocked kitchen with free breakfast, snacks, espresso and energy drinks to keep those sharp minds at their peak. If you’re lucky enough to work in the company’s Mar7n Place offices, you can let out your frustra7ons out with a nerf gun shoot-‐out across your desktop, or hold a mee7ng over the pool table. Long days at the technology coalface are made more comfortable in Aeron chairs (an Aeron chair features in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collec7on). There’s also Xbox, lunch7me sports and poker nights. If that all gets too same-‐same, you could always relocate to the company’s remodelled warehouse in San Francisco, or its offices in Amsterdam, located in a converted home on a canal.
Planning a brief analysis…. Client informaAon: The brief should provide a clear summary of the organisa7on and its key rela7onships. This may include, for example its func7ons, scale of the business, market posi7on, principle form of interac7on and its loca7on(s). Site informaAon: Commercial organisa7ons may have more than one site or the organisa7on may range over many floors of a single building. They may own their space outright or have a tenancy agreement. The designer will need access to the leasing agreement to confirm the scope of project.
Planning a brief analysis…. Scope of the brief: The scope is determined by a combina7on of the client’s goals, budget and the program. It will s7pulate inclusions and exclusions from the design program. Scope of budget: The first budget is an es7mate based on the ini7al schema7c design. On large commercial projects, budgets are prepared for each discrete element of the design. Once the preliminary cos7ng is approved a more rigorous budget is prepared. Constraints that need to be researched and sApulated within the brief: • Budget or part of the budget • Certain spaces within or adjacent to the tenancy • Environmental constraints • Heritage restric7ons • Timing constraints
When crea7ng a new office environment it is essen7al for offices to have a tailored design solu7on that reflects their organisa7onal culture, improves overall produc7vity and maximises staff sa7sfac7on. The design process should look to: • Make efficient, crea7ve use of space
• Reflect & reinforce the organisa7onal culture through the surrounding environment
• Facilitate & support specific work methodology
• Integrate innova7ve, cuPng edge solu7ons, suitable to the organisa7on workplace strategy
It is important to consider workspaces that support various work modes, from encouraging employee collabora7on, interac7on and social cohesiveness, to crea7ng quiet spaces for focus work where required.
It’s hard to imagine having a bad day at the office at these awesome workplaces …
Commonwealth Bank, Sydney Banking and cuPng-‐edge excitement aren’t two concepts that naturally go hand-‐in-‐hand, but the Commonwealth Bank’s Darling Quarter offices in the heart of Sydney are sePng out to change all that. The staff at Darling Quarter are now housed in one of the country’s most eco-‐friendly – and colourful – buildings. Ditching the concept of a permanent desk, staff work in a ‘home zone’ of 70 to 100 people, but can also choose to work in many other parts of the innova7ve building, such as the mobile phone-‐free library, cafes and mee7ng rooms. Forget the corner office: no one has one here, and all staff are judged on their output, rather than being clock-‐watched. Not a bad way to work indeed.