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Work Feels Like A Vacation
What is your interpretation of work? An unknown adventure? A fresh beginning? Or something novel and engaging? If work feels like a vacation, every journey carries unique significance, with exploration fueling creativity sparked by moments of inspiration. This philosophy underpins the expansion of a local brand’s new division, encompassing product development, procurement, and administrative units in a newly acquired floor adjacent to their original office. Waterfrom Design challenged traditional corporate principles by crafting a workspace that aligns with the brand's essence of a perpetual vacation.
The entrance greets visitors with a galvanized surface and industrial tones, echoing the starting point of an imagined vacation. Turning into the reception area, curved walls subtly conceal structural columns, creating a sense of intrigue. A sculptural gap along the wall serves as a display for new products, with three-dimensional zigzag lines reflecting the curtain walls’ interplay with light. High-backed chairs near the windows provide a comfortable waiting space, ensuring a seamless transition into the workspace.
The design team addressed the challenge of intense western sunlight exposure by reversing conventional office design thinking. Instead of adhering to static corporate aesthetics, they created a user-centric environment infused with curiosity and discovery. Recognizing that work occupies one-third of life, the team sought to enhance motivation and productivity by transforming potential obstacles—such as insufficient natural light and disruptive glare in meeting rooms—into opportunities. Leveraging the brand’s ethos of “wearing accessories, life feels like a vacation,” the design integrates abstract concepts to deliver a refreshing spatial experience.
This imaginative narrative continues along a curving galvanized wall that defines the central corridor. The overall layout aligns diagonally at 45 degrees, with open designs along the windows allowing sunlight to flow freely through the space. The curved wall connects via rounded tubes, visually forming droplets that delineate zones for product displays and development teams. These areas are divided only by a stained birch plywood wall, maintaining a balance between separation and cohesion.
The workspace flow is thoughtfully mapped to accommodate frequent meetings, with perforated structures serving as subtle partitions. These perforations encourage interaction while preserving a sense of boundary, fostering dynamic communication among colleagues. Transition points along the pathways create opportunities for spontaneous inspiration, with adjacent walls housing meeting rooms that extend this energy. Ceiling designs correspond vertically with floor patterns, integrating embedded glass doors to provide privacy while maintaining visual fluidity. The interplay of folded lines and contrasting colors adds depth, creating dynamic visual experiences as perspectives shift.
Bright yellow PVC curtains diffuse light across the space, casting playful reflections on surfaces and evoking rippling water. The design team redefined PVC’s traditional use, showcasing its vibrant colors and utility in softly obscuring cluttered areas. This adds a layer of flexibility and energy to the office, setting it apart from conventional corporate settings.
By breaking free from typical corporate structures, the design transforms the office into a space of serendipitous discovery. Employees navigate nonlinear pathways, encountering layered, misaligned visuals that inspire unexpected ideas and extend creative thought. This environment fosters an atmosphere where work feels like embarking on an adventurous journey—transforming everyday tasks into moments of exploration and innovation.
