Prioritising functionality of space with design

The new creative office for Media.Monk, designed by Studio Bipolar, reflects the digital production company’s leading-age ideals and seeks to stimulate creativity

- Sadhya Bhatnagar

Media.Monks, a global content, data and media powerhouse, had recently scaled up its office space in Film City, Noida. The new creative office reflects the digital production company’s leading age ideals and seeks to stimulate creativity. Designed by Studio Bipolar, it is a reconceiving of the old workplace situated in the midst of lush vegetation; envisioned by the client as a space open to its surroundings, inviting abundant daylight into its workspaces.

The contemporary structure that stands now is a realisation of the same vision. It is a powerful yet visually lighter insertion into the natural setting, owing to generously glazed external walls, in glass that reduces interior heat gain. It stands in contrast to the greenery around it, ceiling height windows allowing inhabitants expansive views of the same. In a deliberate attempt to take advantage of the blanket forest cover, the design team’s approach was to bring uninhibited natural light and visual appeal into the entire office. Set out in a comfortably wide U-shape, the open plan prioritises the functionality of space, punctuated by lively breakout areas. At the entrance, a dynamic view of the central conference room greets the office-goer, before sweeping views of the entire layout come into the frame. Apart from numerous workstations lining the perimeter of the hall, the office also consists of a pantry and a row of editing bays along opposite walls.