ANS Head Office
AHEAD CONCEPT DESIGN
ANS Head Office seeks to define “the style of tomorrow” with a minimalist vision that inquires into the future of people in their respective spaces.
Upon glimpsing the strong, rough-hewn geometric lines of the unadorned office, the central light box clearly appears as the heart of the whole space. Located in the center of the office and used as a confidential meeting room, the light box has glass walls which are outlined with galvanized iron bars creating an octagonal framework, a circular heart which radiates symmetrically outward into the entire space. To attain visual geometric tension, basic structural elements such as pipework have been organized into extremely tidy and efficient lines, imparting a first impression akin to a blank page. It is then left to the galvanized iron of the light box to portray a profound array of lines which disperse outward in dynamic layers. Raw materials constitute a lofty, cold structure into which sparse colors are introduced - the light and dark shades of concrete, the grain of wood veneer, hues of gold, green, black, white, and grey - the absolute minimum coloration needed to differentiate the various levels, functions, and characteristics of distinct office areas.
Once the human element is added, this seemingly cold, hard space becomes fluid. In the office space of tomorrow, interactive relationships become secondary to a kind of chemical reaction that occurs with practical daily use. People and space, space and environment, environment and materials; we are all indivisible and interdependent. We live in a time of excess; the use and processing of material, the pursuit and execution of exquisite refinement, the addition and evolution of function. As we stand here now, reevaluating just what kind of workspace might reflect futurity, the answer is: one characterized by a return to genuine simplicity. Contrary to what one may think, when a space complies with and conserves the surrounding environment, this actually accentuates the style, also a significant concept with which we sought to endow the ANS Office.
The style of tomorrow uses seemingly minimal design to catalyze interaction between people and space. The primitive state of the space, including the bare ceilings, self-leveling cement floor, and the natural fluctuations of light, shadow and color from the trees outside combine to create a space that seemingly has no design. As an extension of this, large amounts of unvarnished raw materials such as wood veneer, crude iron componentry and unpolished galvanized iron are used to construct a slightly sci-tech atmosphere, whilst insisting on preserving traces of the renovation process amid the meticulous decor. Making good use of raw materials, a unique “deliberately natural” feel is created, imparting this office with a slightly conflicted sense of cool elegance. Once users are admitted to the space, they catalyze a spotlight reaction within the stark, primitive atmosphere, their apparel and the interior design mutually completing the sense of value.
People of the past often imagined the future would feel very high-tech, complete with automation of astonishing convenience. In fact, this would gradually sever the link between person and environment, and end with the loss of self. We have taken advantage of the ANS Head Office to reflect upon the relationship between people and their work, their space. A space is a vessel that responds to the user’s needs, while it is the people themselves that truly bring style and character to a place.
