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UNICEF Nepal Headquarters

SPACE DESIGN + BRANDED SPACES + ACTIVATION

Transformation to a modern workplace ready to take on tough challenges  

We redesigned the UNICEF Nepal office and made a 360-degree shift from a traditional, slow, and centralised office to a transparent and engaging environment. The vibrant new spaces supported the staff to take on the tough challenges of bettering children's lives across the most inaccessible mountain regions of the Himalayas.

Why did the space need a redesign? 

We were invited by the UNICEF National Country Office of Nepal (UNICEF NCO) to refurbish their offices in Nepal. UNICEF’s universal respect and professional standing had to show through a positive working environment. The organization is admired for its ability to foster warm relationships: the spaces likewise needed to highlight the efficient internal functioning and interactions amongst all its stakeholders.

The brief indicated that the design of spaces should link and collectively represent the children of Nepal, the region of Nepal, and UNICEF in Nepal. The environment primarily impacts the staff of NCO, visiting UNICEF staff, vendors, the local government, and NGOs. UNICEF NCO wanted its offices to express its mission and professionalism by bringing in a sense of pride and ownership for its people.

How did we design a modern UNICEF workspace? 

The existing layout of the UNICEF NCO was open and organic and was designed to grow over time to accommodate varied functions. Our plan incorporated improved functions and a professional ambiance towards efficient work output.

We considered internal needs and made layouts for easy interactions by balancing personal workspaces and meeting spaces. We recommended world-class furniture, desks by Teknion, and chairs by Herman Miller with Monitor Arms, which guaranteed the best ergonomics and comfort at work.

The partitions of sleek slimline aluminum panels brought a sense of openness. High-quality, environment-friendly, and sound-absorbing carpets and ceiling materials took care of optimum noise levels in the open office environment.

The environment graphics connected the goals of an international organization to the local context. The colors of UNICEF — Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow — were juxtaposed along with colors of Nepal using thin strips on frosted film implying working together with urgency and speed.

The entrance graphics had a 3D installation of jagged mountain ranges with pictures of children and people interspersed within the facets reflecting the difficult terrain and the challenges they faced.

Celebrating Nepal and its children

The warm, engaging, and colorful environment reflected the region’s culture, geography, and ethos, bringing context and purpose to the organization's role in making life better for the children of Nepal. 

Taking off on the theme “Uniting for Children '', a magical combination of traditional and modern designs were rendered through colors, images, and textures.

The textiles of Nepal became a metaphor to express the nation’s diversity and to commemorate its heroes by celebrating patterns and colors derived from the exotic striped rugs of the region with graphics in colorful bands. They showcased children as the face of the organization by bringing focus to the fundamental rights of children to study, play, live, and learn.

We combined the local culture with technology, to arrive at a judicious balance of a professional workspace with a healthy and cheerful ambiance. The project was designed and delivered in a year despite many constraints.

Team

Ajay Sharma
George John
Divya Verma
Ashish Rehani
Anthony Lopez

Support

Lalit Giri
Chetan Swarup
Zeena Lopez

 

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