Designed by Beyond Design, the Saint-Gobain office blends Scandinavian aesthetics, biophilic principles and advanced material solutions to create a lightfilled workplace that balances focus, collaboration and well-being.
Designed by Beyond Design, this contemporary office for SaintGobain in Mumbai reimagines the workstation as more than a functional desk, placing employee comfort, natural light and workplace connectivity at the heart of its planning. Integrating corporate workspaces with an experience centre, wellness zones and future-ready solutions, the project brings together biophilic design, material innovation and a carefully considered approach to the evolving needs of the modern workplace.
The design draws inspiration from Scandinavian aesthetics, with a restrained palette of light oak, warm timber, earthy hues, neutral greys and whites. Subtle brand colours add definition, while Saint-Gobain’s advanced material solutions, including acoustic systems, specialised plaster glass, wall coverings and plasterboards, are integrated across the workspace. The material palette establishes a calm, cohesive environment where the workstations become an integral part of the architectural language.
The workstation layout is conceived to maximise natural light while maintaining a balance between individual focus and team interaction. Open workstations occupy the naturally lit areas of the floor plate, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the workspace. Rather than relying on conventional, enclosed cubicles, the design incorporates low-height workstation dividers that establish individual work zones without compromising visual openness or access to natural light.
The 120-degree workstation configuration introduces a more dynamic alternative to conventional linear desk arrangements. Its angled geometry creates a sense of openness while allowing employees to work comfortably within a defined personal space. The configuration also supports flexibility in the open-plan environment, accommodating focused tasks while retaining visual connectivity with colleagues.
Team leader workstations are strategically positioned along the window façade, ensuring access to daylight while remaining visually connected to their teams. The absence of solid barriers reinforces this relationship, allowing team leaders to maintain a degree of privacy without being physically or visually isolated from the larger work area.
Executive cabins are located at the corners of the floor plate, with glazed partitions that preserve visual continuity. Other cabins and meeting rooms are positioned towards the centre, creating convenient access and stronger connectivity between teams. This layered planning establishes a clear spatial hierarchy, accommodating different levels of privacy and interaction without fragmenting the overall workspace.
Acoustic comfort is a key consideration in the open-plan workstation environment. Saint-Gobain’s acoustic solutions are used extensively across the work area to help manage sound and create a more comfortable setting for concentration. Cloud-inspired ceiling baffles introduce a softer architectural expression, breaking away from the rigid geometry of conventional office ceilings while contributing to the acoustic strategy.
The lighting design is closely integrated with the workstation layout and ceiling services. Task-oriented downlights and uplights are incorporated into the open office, complementing the perforated gypsum ceiling and maintaining a clean, uncluttered appearance. The system is designed to enhance illumination levels while minimising glare, supporting visual comfort during extended working hours.
The workstation design also considers the need for individual focus within a collaborative office culture. Low-height dividers provide a degree of personal space, while the carefully positioned team leader workstations offer additional privacy without resorting to full-height partitions. Together, these elements create a workplace that accommodates concentration, interaction and flexibility within a unified open-plan setting.
The workplace extends beyond the primary desk zones to include focus rooms, phone booths and collaborative spaces positioned along the main circulation corridors. These shared facilities offer employees alternatives to their regular workstations, supporting different work modes throughout the day. The breakout and social areas are distinctly separated from the primary work zones, creating a dedicated environment for relaxation and informal interaction.
The integration of the workspace with an experience centre further strengthens the project’s identity, allowing the office to function as both a productive workplace and a showcase for material innovation.
The project was executed in two phases while the office remained operational, requiring careful coordination and much of the construction to be undertaken after working hours and on non-working days. Routing fresh-air ducts while retaining maximum ceiling height in the open office was another significant challenge. The integration of building services, lighting and ceiling systems therefore played an important role in maintaining the openness and functionality of the workstation areas.
The completed office reflects a design approach rooted in simplicity, spatial efficiency and user comfort. Through considered workstation configurations, daylight-led planning, acoustic integration and a restrained material palette, Beyond Design creates a contemporary workplace that feels open, calm and connected. The result is an environment where the workstation is not an isolated unit, but part of a larger, thoughtfully designed ecosystem that supports focus, collaboration and well-being.
