Incorporating local lifestyle into a socially interactive workplace
Booking.com,
Mumbai
M Moser has cultivated a long-standing relationship with Booking.com having worked on numerous global projects with them over the years. As the design partner for their new Mumbai office, we were eager to develop this relationship even further.
Considering Booking.com’s core design objectives for this project and the desired experience for end users and industry partners, M Moser was tasked with designing and building an engaging space for the work force and industry partners that would capture the essence of the local culture and encourage social interaction in the workplace.
Inspired by a diverse urban fabric
Mumbai is a city of stark contrasts woven into an exceptionally diverse urban fabric. M Moser’s conceptual approach involved the formation of distinct themes representative of Mumbai culture, and staging them within a spatial context. Out of this was formed an imaginative journey showcasing a day in the life of a “Mumbaikar”, reminding end-users of the rich, multi-layered ethos that thrives within their global city.
A visual journey through Mumbai
Booking.com’s new 9,500 sq.ft office in the heart of central Mumbai’s business district is sub-divided into various themed zones that address specific cultural and social identifiers, defined by Mumbai. A sequential journey begins from the common areas of the reception, which showcases a typical street market highlighted by authentic novelties such as an ornamented auto rickshaw and a bespoke cut chai glass chandelier in the cafeteria.
Towards the interior, the hard spaces utilise re-purposed shipping containers, inspired by the new Mumbai high-rises using these containers to resolve high-density population housing in the city. Materials have been localised wherever possible, presenting raw finishes and a tactile patina.
The smaller meeting rooms are furnished with magnified photographs highlighting the destinations visited by Booking.com’s employees. These unique features add a personal touch to the space, as well as blurring the line between work and passion. The built-up areas around the open office including the meeting rooms and individual offices draw inspiration from popular holiday destinations, echoing the spirit of exploration and adventure.
Weaving together this visual tapestry, are the impactful “Grunge” supergraphics of Bollywood and cricket stars are dispersed throughout the office to resonate “larger than life”, a phrase commonly associated with movie and sports celebrities in India. The graphics also tie together an organic collage that represents the multifaceted culture of Mumbai, using emblems such as prominent architectural relics and the Hindi alphabet as an art form.
Timely delivery of design and build
The new Booking.com Mumbai office took just 60 days to design and construct. To maintain the short timeline, M Moser’s strategy was to form a streamlined project management system, fine-tuning milestones and ensuring timely client approvals at each stage. We also vigilantly monitored the procurement process to enable smooth transition from one phase to the next.
A global standard in workplace
Booking.com’s new Mumbai office is a reflection of the brand’s global aspirations – a workspace that facilitates employee productivity, while aligning with the local culture and the city they call home. M Moser successfully achieved this by incorporating elements inspired by the quintessential Mumbai city life and artfully creating a visual journey throughout the space.
- Status Completed
- Area 9,500 sq-ft
- Completion date 2018
- Location Mumbai
- Photographer Purnesh Dev Nikhanj
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