Press Release
A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Goes to Block Office by Adrian Chan
The international grand jury of the 2020 - 2021 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Adrian Chan for interior space and exhibition design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 23, 2021 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Block Office by Adrian Chan, designed for Adrian Chan Design and Research Office, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The award was conferred within the 2020 - 2021 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Block Office
Block is an office interior design covering 41 square meters. The office was created for a human resources advisory and training firm that needed a space for team meetings and training events. Low ceilings and a small area were the main challenges. Cabinetry is arranged as a series of floating functional blocks set along a gallery-like wall, following principles of the Prairie School style. The blocks hold functions such as food service and printing. The entry foyer serves as reception, huddle space, training room and cocktail area. Light oak, copper and Calacatta marble are used.
About Adrian Chan
Adrian Chan Design & Research Office (A:DRO) is a studio that strives for aesthetic and usage ingenuity in the realm of the interior. We define Ingenuity as inventive moves that embrace the opportunities of a project to reach an exceptional outcome. Aesthetic as a fundamental need for humans to be in contact with beauty in their spatial environment. Trend vs. originality is a false dichotomy - the definition of beauty should surface naturally via the client/designer relationship based on cultural, perceptual and experiential concerns. Usage as the performative qualities of space, whether it be providing physical & emotional comfort or encouraging sociability.
Award Record
Adrian Chan is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/105901
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/105901
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!105901
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/278246
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.adroffice.com/hr-office
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Block Office
- Function
- Office
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Dim Gray, Lavender, Silver, Light Gray and Dark Olive Green
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Adrian Chan Design and Research Office
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Adrian Chan
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2020 - 2021
- Design ID
- #105901
Credits
- Team
- Adrian Chan, Tracy Lam
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The client, an HR advisory & training firm, needed an office that could communicate openness and could facilitate different interactions from team huddles to training events. The space, however, presented some challenges: low ceilings (7 ft 4) and a small enclosure (41sqm). Referencing the Prairie School, cabinetry are conceived as a series of floating functional blocks embedded along a gallery-like wall inviting the occupant to follow along. Other areas then allow for flexible programming whilst maximizing spatial efficiency.
- Inspiration
- The 19th C. architectural style Prairie School often featured horizontal bands of windows and lines that would direct one’s attention to the horizontal, de-emphasizing the ceiling height. The functional blocks in this project manifest this idea; they achieve the objective of expanding the space while each serving essential functions such as food and beverage, printing etc. Where office space is at a premium, functionality becomes architectural device and ornamentation.
- Research
- Thorough research was conducted to understand the business needs of the company. It was found that the office experienced fluctuations in occupancies due to working from home, itinerant workers/freelancers, and hosting of small to large scale events. As such, precedent research was conducted to derive spatial solutions that were relevant to each case/ occasion. Research was also conducted into historical styles where their principles could be applied where relevant.
- Challenge
- The biggest challenge was space-planning in a small area and executing a design that could satisfy the various occupant needs of the client.
- Realization and Technology
- Materiality leans towards warm, textural and light finishes, with abundant usage of light oak, copper and calacatta marble. Materials chosen have been vetted based on sustainability certifications.
- Operation and Interaction
- The space allows for flexible programming whilst maximizing spatial efficiency and privacy where needed: The entry foyer doubles as a reception, huddle space, training room and cocktail area; the backroom serves as storage for folding chairs and a private relaxation pod.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in January 2019 and finished in June 2019.
- Specifications
- Total area 41 square meters Ceiling height 7 ft 4 in
- Keywords
- Office, Ceiling Height, Flexible Space, Prairie School, Cabinetry
