arpoffice – Ontic Works

ARP OFFICE

ARP Office - 2018

Architect: Babak Abnar

Interior Designer: Ali Ravanpak
Photographs: Hamed Farhangi, Mona Soleimani

Year: 2018

ARP office is a small multidisciplinary work space. A series of projects are conducted here that are led by temporary workers who are to be stationed here in the office temporarily. Therefore, this office is not designed according standards of specialty requirement but it is more of inviting core targeting a variety of professionals. This unit is located on the 6th floor and has privileged views of Tehran and its northern mountains.

The design process was very simple and it is derived by impermanence of individual’s work place and its flexibility, interchangeability of speech privacy, and appeal to employees. The employees are free to decide where to work (anywhere within Tehran). Therefore, the main feature of this office, the “communal working table”, exists to be used at one’s convenience. For instance, when the working conditions at their home is not desirable or they need a place to boost their productivity or simply when they need a change of scenery. The spectacular view of this office unit is fully present in of the spaces.

All of the existing spaces are rearticulated; a dominant extra-large kitchen replaces the usual large living room to be occupied for “introverted” social activities. This space is extended rather unconventionally due to the client’s passion for cooking and also an existing narrative which indicates that guests spend most of their time at the kitchen counters rather than in the living room.

Some surfaces during the finishing process are deliberately left almost unfinished so that the builders hands can be traced visually, avoiding overworking for smoothness. Integration of surfaces of new exposed concrete, smooth renderings and concrete repairs is “playful”, in order to keep the actual state; old and new. There is some demolition but the debris is mostly reclaimed and glued together for furnishing.

Instead of sharp looking urban office it has been decided that a familiar place is needed. Hence, the material pellet is comprised of warm colors, wood and leather and the overall atmosphere has a cue of local character. Speech privacy is required interchangeably, hence, the motorized sliding glass door and the glass partition is in place in order to make the adjustments of the privacy level effortless. The big table is not located to be circulated around as it is usually extended virtually via online meeting. Thus, it is terminated to the wall in order to give the virtual extension a physical existence.