Minimalism and Modern Interior Design

by Park Yin Blogger

There was a time when expansion means literally expanding and covering adjacent nearby areas. Of course, this is the geo-political history of expanding empires had no recourse but to expand horizontally into neighboring countries and continents and thus the same sense of expansion has been pretty much the same. Even for office expansions, the natural movement has always been horizontal which means expanding into nearby spaces in order to meet changing demands of additional personnel or additional operations room.

But it is a bit more complicated to day. In a time of growing population competing for limited spaces especially in metropolitan areas, the mentality an horizontal expansion is simply not a realistic and practical option anymore. Instead of horizontal expansion, the trend is now to go vertical.

Different Expansion Purposes and Needs

There are various reasons for interior design and renovation. Typically, this means expansion of operations where a company chooses to engage in other areas of manufacturing or services which means additional aspects of operations and additional manpower. Obviously both entails additional space, equipment, facilities, appliances and therefore require addition and alteration (A&A), fabrication, office reinstatement and other interior design works.

In some instances, offices opt for newer architecture and interior design to re-invent itself. That is, an office aims to re-construct its public image and therefore wants an office design that communicates the new company image. This is also the case when a company is bought by an external party that wants to re-package the brand. Obviously, this will entail aesthetic changes.

Between these two purposes, there are also business mergers, transfer of local ownership, venture into new enterprises that often necessitate a change in office interior design

Balancing the Expansion Needs and Limited Spaces

Regardless of purpose for expanding and the corollary purpose for office interior re-designing and renovation, functionality and practicality are still the primary considerations. In Singapore, a good office interior design is one that allows freedom of movement, provides better accessibility and is conducive to better productivity. As such, a modern interior design still aspires for the usual office utilities like conference rooms, server rooms and visitor lounge.

But today, functionality needs to be balanced with aesthetic consistency especially if the design and renovations are for improving branding purposes. In the same way, practicality must be balanced with desirability which means a fully functional and practical interior design must still provide a relaxing and conducive feel. As science has proven, the layout, color combination and over-all visual impression can have a positive impact on health, productivity, happiness, and general well-being and therefore understanding personal tastes in style balanced with creating a welcoming and functional environment is the a important function of modern office interior designing.

For all its variety of definitions and applications, minimalism seem to be an appropriate philosophy for modern interior design needs. In a nutshell, a minimalist office interior design uses edgy spaces like lofts or spacious large homes that evoke a cosmopolitan environment with large and low-profile furniture with simple lines, geometric designs, and vintage pieces that serve as creative focal points are at home in a modern interior space. Such office interior layouts provide wide spaces, clean lines, clutter-free aesthetics, and monochromatic palettes that provide comfortable and calming feel. Modern office interior design in Singapore also often makes use of furniture made from industrial materials such as glass and metal and may be modular in their design, often featuring innovative storage options like overhead cabinets, multi-functional appliances.