they developed , the atrium designs became more curvilinear and spoke more to the architectural design of the building .
There are two conceptual ideas of a CALM atrium and an ACTIVE atrium . A visitor will get the feeling that the one atrium is far more peaceful ; there is a lot more planting and it is more intimate , whereas in the larger atrium , you really feel the level of activity , as it opens up more towards you .
As you walk through the concourse , you can see how Discovery ’ s brand identity has been populated in that space with box-like ‘ pods ’ added onto the sides of the concourse . This is not only to enhance the aesthetic , but also showcases Discovery ’ s branding . They also serve the functional aspect of making breakout
spaces in front of the bathroom entrances on varying levels . That , combined with the integration of ceiling details , colour coded floor levels , the 6-storey high main reception , which also integrates Discovery ’ s colours – really becomes the Discovery overlay within the building and also serves to provide distinctive wayfinding .
Circulation Circulation was a fundamental driver throughout the design intent . When you have so many staff to accommodate on a 12,000m 2 plus floor plate , it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed . It was important to humanise the scope of the building through the interior architecture and design . Wayfinding and visibility were key to ensuring people knew where they were within the building . This was acheived was by seeing the building as a series of spaces you move through , rather than one large space .
The pause areas populate the edges and open out onto the atriums - not only showing activity , but also providing spaces to meet . Along the bottom edges of the concourse , boxes ensure you are not just walking along a passage , but have some break-out areas as you move inwards , which could also serve as multi-function meeting spaces . Within the floorplate itself , ‘ Walk-and-Talk Walls ’ that run along from the atrium edges break up corridors so that moving from Point A to Point B there are various active spaces to circulate in .
The design was not only integrated horizontally , but also vertically by connecting the floors together . Eleven coffee shops and meeting rooms alternate between the cores , so people have to walk between the different levels to use the services , which also creates chance interactions between staff that may never meet each other .
528 1 Discovery Place