Architect and Builder September/October 2015 | Page 72

Canteen
The canteen serves as both a staff restaurant and an informal meeting
area for both employees and clients. There are a combination of
seating options available in this area, from typical café tables, to
high bar seating, to banquette seating and soft seating areas.
Square tables can be pushed together to promote collaboration.
The space promotes meetings and interaction between all levels
of the organisation - one space without status demarcations. The
canteen provides a place for employees as well as clients and
this will be a place of community, used for company functions
and announcements
Office Areas
These spaces are clean, efficient and fresh. The use of colour is
limited to specific, carefully chosen areas so that the space does
not become too busy and distracting.
Areas of collaboration have been included for informal meetings
and idea sharing, up skilling and communication. Colour is used in
a bolder sense in the collaboration areas to attract people to use
these areas and to provide visual interest.
Recycling points are placed at the collaboration areas and certain
areas amidst the open plan spaces, promoting Total’s commitment
to social responsibility.

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The layout and desk system is modular and flexible to allow for
future growth and expansion.
Graphics which reflect the brand and brand values are placed in
carefully selected areas such as the collaboration areas, and power
panels. Partitions are glazed with solid painted doors. Decals applied
to the glazing provide the occupant privacy while still allowing light
into the office space.
With regards to carpeting, Interface Monochrome, a 500 x
500mm tufted patterned structured plain carpet tile and Interface
Urban Retreat One, a 500 x 500mm Tapestry tufted patterned
structured loop carpet tile were used. There are three tiles which
form the overall pattern. One tile is a so-called Transition tile, UR
101, with each half a different colour and then a plain tile of each
colour. UR102 and UR103 respectively.
Space Planning
The space-planning of the new building promotes communication,
visual connection and light. This is achieved by the placement
of cellular offices and meeting rooms in relation to the open
plan areas. Cellular spaces are placed along the back edges and
against the cores of the building, looking over the open plan to the
outside, ensuring that each space receives natural light and create
a sense of space.

Total South Africa