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Underpinned by our Scandinavian design heritage, we bring you regular stories about architecture and interiors, exploring natural materials, acoustics, and the creation of safe and harmonious environments.
Lithuanian interior design studio DVI developed a new workspace for the Baltic group of facade contractors KGC, carefully balancing aesthetics and acoustics with employee wellbeing and safety.
“Several aspects were taken into consideration with this interior: raw material production, resource conservation, as well as wellbeing and comfort of employees,” explains Laura Dabravalskytė (left), who along with her friend Radvilė Tirevičiūtė set up the practice in 2017.
The texture of natural wood and stone dominates this 3200 m2 office space. “The main decorative elements in the office reflect construction materials: sand, one of the constituents of glass, plus aluminium which, when viewed up close, is made up of a random sequence of small circle-like shapes. The pattern of the wall and ceiling acoustic panels is like looking through a microscope at the production of materials used every day.”
“Conservation of resources means making sustainable choices when it comes to materials,” says Dabravalskytė. The wood used in Gustafs panels, for instance, is FSC certified and by specifying materials in this way, architects and designers can demonstrate a commitment to protecting the planet’s natural resources.
In the KGC office, natural elements are introduced in details such as mirrors, furniture, walls and ceilings, Dabravalskytė explains. The acoustic panels in different shapes and sizes play a significant role in employee wellbeing. “Ergonomic workplaces are designed to be bright and comfortable, healthy and inspiring, and acoustic comfort is an essential element of that; acoustics provide both mental and psychological comfort where annoying sound disturbances are avoided and a pleasant, cozy environment is created.”
“The concept of biophilic design is also well known and widely used in office interiors,” Dabravalskytė continues. “It helps reduce stress, improves cognitive functions and creativity, and improves the wellbeing of employees and many other positive impacts.” Using natural materials such as wood and stone enabled the designers to adhere to a biophilic design philosophy.
“Fire safety in Lithuania is very highly regulated,” explains Dabravalskytė. By following the guidance of a fire safety engineer, DVI was able to create a beautiful interior that adhered to all legal requirements featuring a raft of natural materials, “Many builders shy away from natural materials because of their cost and maintenance and that is disappointing. We believe they make an interior unique and maybe even a bit luxurious.”
Project photos: Norbert Tukaj