Summertown Interiors

When designing a corporate space, many considerations come into play. There are the usual issues of lighting, furniture style and comfort, open-plan layouts versus enclosed private offices, bright versus subdued color schemes, and how specific spaces need to be used to meet specific business roles and aims.

But the bottom-line objective to any office design is to ultimately create an interior conducive to a productive and inviting work environment, and one which is tailored to the nature of the work climate.

With that in mind, corporate design oftentimes must transcend these fundamental considerations, and must function in harmony with specific cultural expectations. In the Middle East, design considerations can be cultural as well as environmental. Let's take a look:

Modesty panels

These panels are common fixtures in offices around the world but are most particularly incorporated in Middle East office design. For those unfamiliar with their function, modesty panels are essentially a thin board of wood or metal attached to the front of a desk, which shields the legs from view. These panels can be incorporated onto individual desks or boardroom tables as a means to ensure exactly what the name implies: Modesty.

Prayer rooms

For many corporations in the region prayer rooms are an important design consideration, enabling employees to practice their faith onsite while working. Typically situated in a quieter part of an office, prayer rooms are simple in their design, with little or no embellishments other than wall to wall carpeting and a compass directing worshippers towards the Holy city of Mecca. As music is not appropriate within a prayer room, any office sound system must ensure background music is not filtered through.

Washrooms

In addition to prayer room considerations in many Middle Eastern offices, washrooms are also designed to accommodate ablution, and may have separate ante-rooms to ensure more privacy within the restroom itself. Company Chairmen, CEOs and directors in the Middle East often request separate washroom areas incorporated in the design of their own private office.

Artwork

The Middle East is witnessing an intense interest in corporate art collecting, which is impacting commercial design around the region. Corporations adhering to more conservative viewpoints may be more inclined to display contemporary, modern artwork or landscape portraits rather than art of the human form.

Heat and light

The climate is a fundamental consideration in any commercial design project in the region. Intense sunlight, humidity, and the dustiness of the Gulf must be accounted for in terms of window coverings, air conditioning, access to the outdoors, and availability of covered parking for staff.

Last word

Commercial design is a malleable profession that can easily be tweaked and altered to fit into endless cultural provisions. Custom-creating a corporate space is no different to a home office, or residence in this instance. As long as your specific cultural and environmental needs are identified, then the design solution can be uncovered and interpreted in a modern and elegant form.