A growing coalition of heritage conservationists and cultural advocates is calling for the urgent call to declare the Pasig River a National Cultural Treasure (NCT). They cite the river’s irreplaceable historical, cultural, and ecological significance. The move comes amid renewed concerns over the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), a controversial 19.37 kilometer, 6-lane expressway that critics […]
Cave Office Flows to the Rhythm of Human Movement
Is there really only one way of working? For example, should offices really just be composed of cubicles and a break room? Or can we break out of that thinking? The Cave Office in Mexico offers a different approach on how to play around with form to meet a function.
Located in Ciudad de México, Cave Office overlooks a business park filled with buildings and greenery. Javier Senosiain created the design alongside Luis Raúl Enríquez M. and Julieta Badillo taking on the role as lead architects.
Adapting to Human Patterns
Cave Office was created to be a natural evolution to the idea of open plan work spaces. Or perhaps more of a de-evolution, as it pushes against modern practices of how offices should be, and instead finds the flow of humanity through the past.
The office interior evokes the appearance of a cave, achieved through the undulating walls and yellow lighting. To achieve this look, they applied maple root veneer to the ceilings, walls, and floor, emphasizing spaciousness through the pine wood skeletons. The overall effect resembles the iconic Cantina from the original Star Wars film.
Constructing the Interior
The architects imbued the rectangular layout with a sense of naturalness reminiscent of cave-like structures, typically characterized by rounded forms resulting from erosion. Within this layout, strategic pathways delineate separate zones: private, secluded areas conducive to focused work, and communal spaces. Surfaces upholstered in leather add further comfort.
This design results in three distinct zones, with a central volume serving as the communal hub, with workshop spaces and private meeting rooms for interactions with colleagues and clients. Additionally, an adjacent terrace provides an outdoor space for workers seeking external stimulation.
Stimulating Dynamics
The rooms’ layout use interconnected curves rather than solid wall partitions, creating a dynamic flow throughout the interior. By examining the schematics, you can observe this intentional choice to promote fluidity. Additionally, the furniture seamlessly integrates into the overall design.
The architects stated plainly in their intent for the building: they wanted “environments that follow the natural rhythm of human movements, are areas where integrated furniture facilitates circulation.” It flows well to and from each other, and follows the rhythm of human movement rather than boxing it in.
Cave Office echoes the need of a dynamic office that is people-friendly in its design. The look is naturalistic, its openness encourages interaction without removing the privacy aspect in the matter. This office shows that, sometimes, you see the future by looking towards the past.
Related reading: C-Studio Is A Recreational Facility that Serves As The Owner’s Man Cave
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
For Unveiling Perspectives, Quezon City-based art gallery Kaida Contemporary assembled a group of artists to create different compositions that portray their daily lived experiences. It shows them in a way that illustrates their individuality as artists, with different materials that are important to them and their craft as a whole. “Art has a way of […]
Six years and a global pandemic later, I finally found my way back to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center for this year’s Art Basel Hong Kong — but this time, with my husband, litigation lawyer and business owner, Atty. Fred Young. Founded by gallerists in 1970, Art Basel is the leading global platform […]
Gloss with a Purpose combines the artworks of Filipino photographer Lee Morale and American artist Kia LaBeija. The exhibit highlights the artifice and performance that exists in queer communities—and its importance in the way we define our own identities as a whole. Hannah Jaugan curated Gloss with a Purpose as her senior thesis for AB […]
Any art enthusiast or gallery hopper going around to enough exhibits on National Women’s Month this year would definitely notice a recurring theme across the spectrum. These group exhibitions of women artists didn’t just center around giving women a voice. Many of them concentrated around the idea of “community,” of creating resources and circles that […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]