June 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
45
project profile
Interior
INK Design Lab has specified a modern office
environment that integrates the requirements of
high technology imperatives with the warm and
welcoming spirit of an African organisation. Ma-
terials, textures and colours strongly translate the
idea of amodern African space and, since the GCIS
is the custodian of many important historical pho-
tographs, the design teamhas used some of these
images to celebrate and expose the tenant’s work.
“We have tried to avoid a standard and con-
ventional commercial approach, in favour of a
more organic and natural feeling,”INKDesign Lab’s
Lisebo Mokhesi says. “The decisions made were
influenced by the richness of colour and textural
quality of the African environment. Challenges
included designing high technology spaces, such
as the press room, in a fresh and modern way,
without compromising the acoustic and audio-
visual technology requirements.
“The success of the final design can be attrib-
uted to very good levels of co-operation between
the tenant and all the professional teams. We are
proud with the way we have managed to com-
municate the GCIS vision into the interiors to
create a humane, vibrant 21
st
century workplace
in which people want to work and where they are
enabled to be productive. We are also very proud
of having participated in the selection of the right
materials and adhesives that will help the building
to achieve a 4-Star green star rating.
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