Lead the way

Open office design influenced by workforce mobility and desire for LEED certification.

Davis Langdon, a global construction consultancy, has just moved into a new 8000 square foot office in Healthcare City, Dubai. It is the company's third office in the city and has been designed to reflect a forward-looking professional approach, backed by the solidity of years of experience in the market.

Interior design firm Bluehaus got its brief direct from Davis Langdon's London office. Davis Langdon had worked with consultants developing a look and feel for its offices, which although it did not go into the details of exact finishes, did work to create a clear corporate look.

Bluehaus needed to emulate this look in the new Dubai office, while still dealing with the local procurement issues, time constraints and working with suppliers to make sure everything was delivered on time.

"That was the challenge," said Ben Corrigan of Bluehaus. "We were trying to get the same look and feel, not necessarily exactly, but people needed to walk in and recognise the space as a Davis Langdon office.

"One of the things in the original brief was to make an office that was brighter and more forward thinking. Hence the space is 100% open plan, there are lots of laminates in primary colours, and there are also a lot of corporate messages around the space, such as projects they've completed and the company's mission statement."

Given the client's core business and skill set, the budget was well defined and accounted for everything. The global reach of the company had a benefit as well, a worldwide agreement with Herman Miller sees everyone sitting on Aeron chairs.

"Because they work as cost consultants there was no issue," said Corrigan. "The budget wasn't a concern, the client had budgeted for and listed everything.

"If you look at what we've achieved there, with things like Herman Miller furniture and Milliken carpets - which are recyclable - they've just been very wise with their money. The back of house area is very nice, but actually there's just a white paint finish on the walls.

"Davis Langdon was very clever about where it spent its budget. Lots of corporate client offices look fantastic, but zero is spent on the important bits, such as the ergonomics of the furniture. They've spent money on the furniture and fittings, not on the walls."

"The result is a professional, clean, yet not over designed interior. Customers need to walk in and feel that this is a serious company. The design has an element of youthfulness about it, but it also has to reflect Davis Langdon's years in the Gulf; people need to see them as professional and forward thinking ... that was the brief."

This dual identity of youth and experience was achieved through various design devices, the most obvious of which is the choice of materials. Sandstone on the floor and cherry-wood veneer for the walls in the reception area, offer the element of permanence required in a ‘serious' office.

First impressions start in the lift-lobby, which was redesigned to remove the ‘healthcare' look from the original. The aim was to make visitors feel they were on a Davis Langdon floor, not just visiting an office. Branding and signage by Omni Signs is subtly placed as people step out of the lift.

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