Conceptual Minimalism by BllendDesignOffice | Helen Brasinika

Inspiration
Informed by conceptual minimalism the new interiors were designed to relocate a multidisciplinary design studio following a rebranding architectural brief. The target was the interior to reflect the studios' aesthetic and environmental concerns. The architectural dialog starts from landscape and topography, but follows a procedure that allows the essences of space,materials, light and human condition to blend in naturally in order to achieve simplicity.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The interior design is striped to an aesthetic, yet not functional minimalism. The open plan space is emphasized by clean lines and big glazed openings allowing in plenty of natural daylight. The choice of a light color palette combined with material and textural variety allows for space and function unity. The notion of architecture as concept is emphasized by the selective use of art pieces which play again with color and texture-finish.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:
Different functions and routines are concentrated in the same section of a space that allows for different team members to interact and work together on a project basis.

Office, design, minimalism, conceptual, abstract, led, linear, sustainability, daylight


PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION:
The project started in April 2011 in Athens, Greece and was delivered June 2011

PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY:
Plaster and mineral aggregates, LavaPlaster, lacquered wood ral 9016, brushed and waxed oak veneers, metal USM office furniture. The majority of furnishing items, was custom designed and produced not only for the sake of design and function, but also to allow for the symbolic nature of materials and structures to emerge. Lighting is mainly led and linear accentuating planes, vertical and horizontal.

SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES:
The studio is less than 100 sqmtrs. Regarding products, pigments and varnishes only sustainable and VOC emissions free materials were specified.


RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
Designing with natural daylight following the guidelines of IESNA, Illuminating engineering society of North America. Light and Sustainability research findings about bioclimatic design for air quality and natural cooling heating.

CHALLENGE:
The floorplan layout and the buidlings orientation determined basically the initial limitations. The studio to retain its minimal ambience, was in need of storage and filing space which was designed as wrapping around the elevator box. The absence of right angles on the floorplan determined the need to destract from vertical planes emphasizing horizontal and a more dynamic view of the space.