Clutter is out and a neatly put-together place is in. Offices in Jamshedpur are slowly, yet surely, changing. Gone are the days of cheap wooden chairs and tables; swanky spaces are being made up with pastel hues, wooden floors and designer swivel chairs. And rightly so. As the influx of investors and foreign clientele increases, so does the investment into an office interior. Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury takes a peek into the decor diktats

Cluttered, no more

Sprawling spaces with pool tables and vending machines may still be a distant dream for a Jamshedpur office-goer, but, slowly yet surely, there seems to a decor revolution of sorts happening at steel city offices.

Already cabins have given way to cubicles and the urge for open spaces, too, is fast catching on.

Wooden or iron furniture scattered around is passe. Meticulously planned contemporary furniture in bright colours are a must. What has become especially important for offices catering to clients from other states, or even foreign soils, is a hygienic space with adequate facilities for refreshment.

Office interiors in the steel city are divided into two broad categories; corporate and private offices. But be it corporate or private, the demand for airy and well-lit places is growing.

Though cabins are out, people still prefer separate workstations. “Outstation clients often demand their separate space to work. Therefore, a cubicle helps maintain privacy,” says Surjya Choudhury, director of Mark Interiors, a city designing firm.

Options galore

The mantra today is surely open spaces or places that give you a feeling of a working in a large area — an effect that may be brought out with the help of glass walls or panelling.

“People do not want to be graded while working. So there’s no need for that solid wall separating the ‘boss’ from the rest. Unlike before, they also do not mind being seen while working,” puts in Choudhury, who recently brought the concept of glass walls at Tata Steel Metal Junction’s office in Bistupur.

“There is also a tremendous demand for wooden flooring. Not only does it give a certain ‘look’ to a office but it’s cost-effective as well. Wooden floors are made in a way that sound (of footsteps) is absorbed,” says Rituparna Vardhan of Vastu Vikalp Interiors. As for furniture, designers these days prefer branded steel or fabricated furniture.

For wall treatment, experts recommend white shades. “Shades of white or pastel hues are the best options for offices. Bright colours coupled with brighter light tends to distract workers and make a space look smaller,” stresses Vardhan.

Lights please

With the furniture and the floor in place, the next, and perhaps the most important need, is that of proper lights. With offices increasing their hours, a badly-lit space is not only unattractive, but an unhealthy option.

Designers, these days, like to retain natural light as much as possible. But when it comes to artificial lighting, concept of “task” lighting is catching on fast. “Task lighting is when the light is focussed on every workstation, which helps retain the concentration level,” says Vardhan. For ambience lighting, experts suggest lighter shades, like white and blue, for office spaces. Also, power-saving bulbs and tubes are better options thanks to their low electric consumption.

Neatness is needed

Last, but not the least, hygiene today tops the priority list for every customer. Stinking and wet washrooms are an absolute no-no. Every company today makes it a point to have cleaner and better-lit washrooms. “It’s a must to have well-planned washrooms. Else, it leaves a negative impression on the clients, who are used to better facilities,” adds Choudhury.

No matter what changes might creep in, the thrust is on mixing aesthetic beauty with utility.

Clients are more willing to experiment and designers are readily catering to them. Plush office interiors are gradually gaining prominence, but designing firms are not too happy with the clients in Jamshedpur.

“People here want the best deal, but are not ready to pay the price,” rues Choudhury. Whatever may be the complaints, with gradual mushrooming of banking and private sector offices in Jamshedpur, interiors have surely changed from what they used to, even few years ago.