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Located at Bangunan Malaysia RE, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, is an office space that speaks volumes when it comes to state-of-the art concepts and uniqueness. The office? Ideal Lifestyles & Living Sdn Bhd, the company responsible for the signature brand Bang & Olufsen’s presence in Malaysia.
Led by General Manager Kenneth Wong, who was instrumental in conceptualising the design and who himself is a true reflection of the style and innovation depicted, (Wong is young, stylish and dynamic with an understated but undeniable charm), Ideal Lifestyles has created a truly unusual ambience for its workplace. The experience begins as you enter the office, a conceptualised crossing of a bridge over a lighted pool. Upon reaching the main entrance’s glass door, the receptionist buzzes you in and you wonder exactly where to push or pull because at first glance there appears to be no handle. According to Wong this is deliberate because it alludes to an aura of open mystery and intrigue – glass and all!
Once you are in, the foyer reflects a concept of immense space and transparency. For example, the usual brand name of products on display is deliberately small, spotlighted by a mesmerising soft lighting. In fact, the whole area is a transit oasis of quiet elegance, true to the company’s values and philosophies.
Space unlimited
Walk farther into the office and you will find yourself at one end a short U-shaped corridor that leads to individual office spaces and the main meeting room. Employees here have the pleasure of not being constrained behind office panels and cold corporate environments as the space opens up to full windows where beautiful greenery and cloudy blue skies give an aura of working in an exclusive outdoor highlands. Glass walls panelled with sticker form provide an illusion of privacy within the rooms. These sticker forms are also practical because they can be changed easily unlike tiles or wood panelling.
The first thing that jumps out at you is the unique colour theme that runs across the entire office, which is black. This not only gives the ambience an intimate feel but one that speaks of professionalism and privacy too. Playing on the privacy theme still, a number of hidden doors and storage shelves are set within the non-glass wall panels. The feel that is instantly projected? One of seamless space.
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Successful simplicity
The piece de resistance is the meeting room, which is really like being on the inside of an audio speaker. All black and soundproof with an entire glass board instead of the ubiquitous white board, the walls are made of fibre moulding reflecting an audio speaker’s bowl-like shape. In fact, the ceiling lights mimic the perforations in an audio speaker. And of course, the chairs and meeting table are black and custom built to keep within the theme. Says Wong, “Bang & Olufsen’s main products are audio-visual equipment which is why the office has been designed to give the feeling of being within a audio speaker.”
Another note-worthy space is the CEO’s room, which is similar in concept to the meeting room. However, here the walls fibre moulding reflect a car seat reverse-bowl look. The same idea of hidden shelves and minimalist sophistication are apparent throughout. A FIAM coffee table with its curved glass and CASSINA chairs at the sitting area of the CEO’s room add to the elegant feel in the room.
What the entire office actually reflects is Ideal Lifestyles’ signature brand, Bang & Olufsen, which specialises in state-of-the-art audiovisual and multimedia equipment. As Wong says, owning the Denmark- imported Bang & Olufsen’s product is like owning a ROLEX. It is all about evergreen simplicity of design and detailed craftsmanship, which is also what the office space is all about. With clean contemporary lines, it is apt to say that Ideal Lifestyles has indeed successfully conveyed its brand philosophy through its ingenious use of space.
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