Out of Office: Akatre turns work spaces into spatial images

What was your approach for the offices theme?
We started off by delving into the research itself. We focussed on the various ideas concerning the workplace and the different measures being taken by designers and businesses to make these spaces more efficient and inspiring for employees.

You chose to focus your design on the following key terms: ‘space’, ‘transparency’, ‘anamorphing’ and ‘movement’. What do these concepts say about the future of office design?
We believe that these concepts are in tune with the future of the workplace. There are those who have understood the necessity of creating working environments that are more pleasant and attractive for their employees. This is fundamental, as we spend so much of our time at work. We need more space, freedom and flexibility. Technology has allowed us to work on the move, and the workplace should engage with and accommodate this model.

Can you walk us through how you made the images?
Our process is typically one of purification, of extracting and highlighting the fundamental message. We treated the images in the same way one might design a poster. For this particular project, we maximized the elements of the material and spatial signifiers (form, glass, and concrete) and revolved our design around them. Once the foundations were laid, we built each image independently so that the concepts could stand alone.

What materials were involved?
Concrete/cement, glass, and coloured felt.

Were the images influenced by any particular space or object?
We weren’t so much influenced by an object, but rather by artistic installations. We were especially influenced by the works of Georges Rousse and Victor Vasarely for this series.

What is the significance behind the shapes and materials you chose?
The materials were there to give shape to a rigid structure. We then rearranged the so-called order through the intrusion of yellow felt.

What was the most challenging aspect of the assignment?
The pressure of being featured on the cover of such a well-established international magazine.

What is your favourite element?
The layered glass plates.