It is well documented that over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of office workers have gotten used to the comforts of remote work. While it has some benefits, such as time saved on commute and flexibility for workers, there are also pitfalls such as stifled communication. 

When Right Angle Studio was engaged to design a family office’s workplace, the client posed a particular challenge in response to this: to design an office that encourages staff to return to the office and resume a normal working pace similar to pre-pandemic times. 

Housed in the upscale central area of Singapore, this family office is conceptualised as an intimate and conducive environment for administrative work. A strong sense of tranquillity defines the space, beginning from the entrance. A descending timber trellis wall screens the work desks from the common corridor outside T Office, which sees ample public foot traffic. This feature also helps to create a pace of slow reveal for guests, and is a smart mode of concealing structural columns and the electrical distribution board.

Natural wood ash veneer is the main material employed to achieve a genteel, timeless and holistic palette. It is applied to all the joinery as well as the wall panelling that wraps around columns. The open-plan layout with a modest footprint of 2,000 square feet has meeting rooms, the pantry and the director’s room tucked to the edges, separated with glazing. To create a sense of engagement without sacrificing privacy, the Studio introduced a custom-designed swivelling screen divider with a storage base. 

On the note of innovation and sustainability, louvres found in Straits Chinese shophouses inspired the design, which sees rattan panels inserted within the panels – a nod to the business’ humble origins in Indonesia. This material is useful to reduce visibility, provides each zone with a certain level of privacy and maintains an unobtrusive presence. Due to its small staff count, working desks are openly-planned without limitations and allocated graciously to accommodate the director's room, meeting rooms, and the pantry respectively.

Filing cabinets in the main space with a wall panelling design and soft translucent curtains in the meeting rooms complete the overall sense of domestic calm. Finished in a warm, natural palette, this project actualises the concept of a composed home office, illustrating a timeless, functional space for employees to enjoy.