Working to create the next generation of entertainment, TiVo prioritises innovation and technology to deliver varied and rich visual experiences to customers. For its new Bangalore workplace, TiVo wanted to share its brand values and inspire employees to revolutionise the way users discover content. Mixing dynamic and functional work areas, we created a home-like working experience.

At a glance

1. Inspired by residential elements, the design balances privacy with spaces for community interaction.
2. New ‘idea zones’ help promote engagement and innovation.
3. Multi-functional spaces offer the flexibility to meet changing user needs.

Located in a special economic zone (SEZ) campus, the Bangalore office is TiVo’s largest outside of the US. As a fast-growing business, flexibility has been key to success, and the design of the new workplace. TiVo’s culture and people thrive on versatile ways of working, so we designed a space that provides settings for quiet focus, collaboration, and casual interaction.

Beginning in the reception, warm wood tones and natural light offers comfort and familiarity. A free-standing, glass structure called the ‘TiVo House’ serves as a tête-à-tête space, similar to a central community living room. Creating a memorable first impression, this unique space is a functional place for visitors and employees to connect. To inspire employees and encourage teamwork, we developed ‘idea zones’, or rooms to promote creative thinking and innovation. These spaces encourage movement, featuring clustered seating at the centre to offer  360-degree views. They also include writable wall surfaces for brainstorming and glass façades for transparency. The spacious cafeteria has diverse seating options, including booths, informal breakout spaces, and individual tables. Encouraging social interaction and play, the space also includes a recreational zone with board games, writable surfaces, and a digital console.

The work areas are defined by an eclectic mix of locally sourced materials, graphics, and textures, creating a lively work environment that draws inspiration from traditional Indian art and handicrafts. Distressed wood panelling adds a warm, rustic character, while patchwork fabric panels with bright colours and traditional patterns create dynamic texture. Handpicked sarees locally-sourced from a Jaipur-based vendor decorate the main boardroom, and sheer curtains bring light into the space. TiVo’s geometric patterns are peppered with regional cultural design elements for a localised global brand identity.

At its Chennai workplace, automotive partnership Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (RNM) wanted to transform the working culture from traditional and mechanical to dynamic and collaborative. With a sizable 900,000 sq ft space spread across three buildings and eight floors, the new design would have a major impact on the organisation and its staff. Key goals were to improve efficiency and synergy between the three partner companies, and to achieve an open, bright space that would engage and retain workers.

At a glance

1. Enabling a collaborative culture with a new open-plan arrangement.
2. Aligning the brand experience by uniting three companies.
3. Taking an economical approach to achieving a high-value, impactful space.

In updating its 900,000 sq ft workplace, the RNM alliance had two key objectives:

• To improve efficiency by combining the strengths of all three companies, developing synergies, cross-company teams, shared platforms and components.
• To create a brighter, more open and engaging space that would attract and retain a younger workforce.

RNM wanted to transition from mechanical to collaborative. This called for an open office design to encourage interaction across departments.

We re-planned the space to include open office seating with ‘collaboration intervals’ and areas such as an amphitheatre meeting room, focus booths, and breakout zones to encourage informal and open discussions. The main entrance on each floor has been transformed into a centralised area, where employees can gather for group discussions or a short break. To maintain privacy, we used acoustic materials, noise cancelling, and privacy panels in the collaboration areas. Storage cabinets also serve as partitions between open seating and collaboration spaces.

The building houses three different brands, but RNM didn’t want to include any specific brand colours. A balance of accent colours and textures brings energy into the space and helps integrate the teams. RNM’s products incorporate high design, yet remain affordable. We used this company value to deliver an impactful yet economical workspace. Engaging a single contractor, using quality-oriented and value brands, and refurbishing existing furniture helped us deliver an efficient, yet quality design.

In line with RNM’s values of innovation and technology, we developed a zone for promoting ideation, innovation, and concept development. This new ‘design studio’ encourages movement with a single cluster of desks at the centre. Wall-to-wall writing surfaces and space to display research supports seamless discussions. An adjacent auditorium for town hall meetings serves as a global virtual forum to interact with teams from around the world. The auditorium has 350 seats with an advanced AV system, while addressing acoustics. The cafeteria has a capacity of 450 with a live kitchen. The main challenge was controlling noise intensity during lunchtime, so we designed the space in an L-shape and used acoustic panels.