Wockhardt Office

WOCKHARDT OFFICE Architects: MQA Location: Dubai Area: 250 sq.m Year: 2018 Brief: The site is located in the free zone of Jafza, in Dubai. Due to it being in Dubai free zone, fewer structures are seen along the desert landscape, and Wockhardt warehouse and its office, being one among them. Due to vast stretch of desert, the building stands with its interesting facade. The annexure building is alongside its warehouses and is developed on a linear land adjacent to main road. Keeping the built to the minimum at ground level, the lush green on the ground and the shade provided by the block above form a very intimate space providing respite to the visitor from the harsh hot and dry climate of Dubai. It also accommodates the parking requirement of the building. The warehouse is connected on the lower ground by means of access from the front building and on upper floors by connecting bridges. The upper volume comprising of the work spaces is raised and is moved out over the glass entrance vestibule, and the connecting spaces of the main lobby, the passage and internal courtyards are seemingly linked with the physical environment. To increase visually and to seamlessly connect the different functions within the office, there is evident transparency in terms of glass partitions. The work spaces have internal green pockets like an oasis, as transitional rest spaces. Architecture is used to break visual barriers and is bringing together people from varied section of the working environment. The interior of the workspace is enclosed with glazing which has prefabricated skin overlapping the facade. The linear planning of the space gives an illusion of volumes in terms of its elevation. This volume is subtracted at intervals to break the monotonous grid of the screens. The interiors of the building combine environmental graphics of simple minimal quality with clean crisp visual communication. Light plays an important role in work spaces to make it a lively environment. the glazed facade enables immense sunlight within the interiors. Due to the harsh climate, the perforated façade filters sunlight and there is a constant movement of light and shadow in the work areas. The user adapts to the changing environment. Internal courtyards bring nature inside the office areas and open itself to the surroundings. The design with its natural and man-made environment exemplifies the co-existence of the two worlds. The spaces within the offices is distributed in terms of their functions. It has large lobby areas, open working stations, meeting areas that are all visually visible in the linear grid. People can easily navigate within the office due to its simple allotment of activity areas. The reception and green space areas serves as meeting points in the center for both the front office and warehouse employees. The warehouse employees and staff are connected to the warehouse by mean of a connecting bridge.