Winner of Asia Pacific Property Awards 2020 for Office Interior, DBS’ new office addition in Skyview Building, Hyderabad, India, extends over 190,000 square feet and comprises over 1,200 tech-skilled professionals. This office is an extension of DBS’ offices in Singapore, and the staff working in this office are hired to help DBS shape the future of banking through the creation of innovative technologies.
Designed to spur innovation, the concept leverages outdoor experiences that are weaved seamlessly into the design, to create a sensorial office experience for staff, who are often deskbound and spend most of their working hours using their screens. The aesthetics of the workspace spur innovation by looking less like a traditional bank and more like a futuristic big tech company; yet the space also embraces DBS’ brand and culture in its design.
Inspired by the great outdoor adventures one can experience in India, a journey through the office will take one high up in the mountain at Kolli Hills, deep into the blue ocean of Goa, on the wall of Shey Rock region in Leh, to paragliding at Himachal. A highlight of the new office includes the Forest Walk, a feature walkway by the reception. Creating a calm and warm welcoming atmosphere for all, this walkway greets employees and guests with ambient nature sounds and forest visualisation. The unique entrance directs people through a light tunnel wrapped with a lit tree canopy to the main social hub. The Forest Walk plays on one’s sense of sight and sound to create an immersive experience.
Appealing to all five senses, including sight, touch and sound, the spatial design enhances the user experience on an emotional level to promote engagement, job satisfaction, and creativity. As one progresses across the floor plate, one is transported through a spectrum of landscapes, each creating a unique landscape for individual teams to work within. With an open, activity-based layout, the workspaces comprise various spaces including quiet room, open collaborative area and social area that are thoughtfully designed to cater for different moments of the workday – be it a collaborative meeting, working on an individual task, or social bonding with colleagues over meals or games. Thoughtfully curated elements of greenery, in the form of potted and hanging plants and green walls, add calm and respite to ease the demanding moments of a workday.
