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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. VICE Toronto in Canada by DesignAgencyDecember 28th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: DesignAgency When VICE Media — the world’s preeminent youth media company— needed a new Toronto bureau — having expanded from 50 to over 150 people in over a year— they engaged DesignAgency because the two companies share a common core: both are cross disciplinary, collaborative and creative. VICE asked for a space that reflects their strong brand, and exudes the youthful energy that they are famous for. Attuned to the needs of its client, DesignAgency infused a decommissioned factory with the informal, relaxed vibe of a classic cigar lounge, then stealthily layered technology, lighting and sound equipment throughout. The results are instrumental for the VICE team to produce their multi-platform content, while allowing the open-plan space to play triple duty as a day-to-day working environment, a film and recording set and a showpiece that speaks to the personality and values of the company.  As visitors enter, they are immediately immersed in the world of VICE with unexpected touches, including a softly glowing, neon sign, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams
 As visitors enter, they are immediately immersed in the world of VICE with unexpected touches, including a softly glowing, neon sign, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams As visitors enter, they are immediately immersed in the world of VICE. The hard-edged, industrial lobby — with a steel and stone reception desk, raw concrete floors and rough brick walls — captures, through giant panes of steel-framed glass, the hive of activity in the office beyond. Unexpected touches, including a softly glowing, neon VICE sign and a reclaimed Persian rug paired with a distressed leather sofa, gives a taste of VICE’s irreverent tendencies.  The VICE team works long hours on tight deadlines; the saloon-inspired bar helps build a strong team dynamic, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams  In the Bear Room, sound equipment and lighting can be optimized for filming, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams That irreverence intensifies immediately beyond the lobby, where visitors step into a fully stocked saloon. Tall, walnut shelves are stocked with bourbon and whiskey (as well as coffee, tea and sparkling water for early morning meetings). Laptop-toting techies huddle around marble-topped tables ringed by vintage drafting chairs. The space throws back to a more liberal era of office culture, when long hours and after-dinner drinks were the norm. The materials reinforce the throwback feel. DesignAgency topped the bar with soft zinc that distresses with use; the marble patinas with the spill of every bourbon sour.  The Bear Room room is elevated up a foot from the rest of the office for both poetic and practical reasons. The podium makes luminaries feel important; the added lift helps with optimize on-camera site lines to the space beyond the window, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams  The kitchen can be used for filmed demonstrations, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams Adjacent to the bar, the Bear Room (named for a similar meeting room in the Brooklyn office and its taxidermied namesake) is both the marquis meeting area and the signature interview space for visiting luminaries. Twin, five-hundred pound coffee tables made from sawn timber logs, flanked by plush tufted couches, custom made in Ireland by Orior, and an ox-blood coloured accent wall, evoke the feeling of a cigar lounge. Sound, lighting and site-lines are all optimized for filming.  The kitchen can be used for filmed demonstrations, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams  DesignAgency housed four executive suites in twin, walnut-andglass- clad cubes that float down one side of the office, separating the kitchen from the main space, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams The majority of the office is open concept, with giant east facing windows for day lighting, or overhead lighting that can be adjusted for either straight-up tasks or filming. Employees sit or stand at reconfigurable desks with optional privacy screens. As a contrast, DesignAgency created intimate break out areas. The kitchen is separated by two pavilions that house the executive offices, instilling a sense of intimacy for the eating area — useful in part because it doubles as a set for on-camera cooking demonstrations. A screening room, with plush leather armchairs, provides a space for unwinding and watching the products of the offices frenetic creativity.  Furniture is custom-designed by DesignAgency and custom-fabricated by Orior, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams ABOUT DESIGNAGENCY DesignAgency is an award-winning Toronto based design consultancy. Established in 1998 by partners and long-time friends Allen Chan, Matt Davis and Anwar Mekhayech, the studio unites architectural, interior design, industrial design, branding and digital design expertise. With a local and international portfolio of projects working for leading companies, developers, restaurateurs, retailers and hoteliers, each client works directly with one or more of our partners, reflecting our belief that great design requires leadership, focus and commitment.  Boardrooms lit with custom lighting by Toronto designer Hollis Morris carry the theme of stealthily integrated tech: the cable channels are cast into the concrete floor and discretely run into the tables, Image Courtesy © Adrien Williams Our success is rooted in our collaborative and consultative approach by which our multidisciplinary team of talented design professionals engage internally with the partners and clients to craft innovative, custom designed spaces that help elevate the consumer experience. We embrace the full spectrum of design typologies and remain open to innovative ideas, technologies, and new creative design approaches that will enable us to bring the best solutions forward to our clients.
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Category: Office space |
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