Grosvenor Asia Pacific is a developer and investor in property and has been present in the Asia Pacific region for more than 20 years. Grosvenor Group (‘Grosvenor’) engaged DB&B to design their new 2,600 square feet office located in HKRI Taikoo Hui, Jing’an District. The final design became the first office in Asia Pacific to be awarded WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) Certification at Gold Level for New & Existing Interiors by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™).

The WELL Building Standard is an evidence and performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features that impact human health and wellness in buildings through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Guided by these seven categories, DB&B identified the critical design elements necessary to apply and deliver an office centred on the health and wellbeing of its staff.

The key aim of the project was to deliver an environment that was more than just a workplace; it was to ensure that the well-being of Grosvenor employees was at the heart of sustainable design.  In achieving this, DB&B was able to lead on the delivery of a space that also echoed Grosvenor’s philosophy of ‘living cities’ for quality, integrity and social responsibility.

The Industry’s First Gold WELL Certification

In line with the WELL requirements, DB&B took a rigorous approach to waste management, seeking to eliminate the production of waste during design, construction, operation and end-of-material lifespan. Materials selected were environmentally-friendly with low emission VOC content, and the design utilised an elaborate air quality monitoring and filtration system for enhanced ventilation. Sound insulation and a bespoke selection of lighting fixtures such as non-glare, dimmable and warm colour tones all contribute to creating a working environment that centred on comfort and well-being.

The team worked closely with the client to deliver their brief for an environment focused on sustainable and user-centric design features. The new open-plan design encourages easy and convenient interaction amongst the users. A moveable desk in the pantry provides a multi-purpose function: offering flexibility for open discussions, or when lowered, transforms into a ping-pong table for recreation purposes.

Upon the successful completion of the project, Billy Siew, Managing Director of DB&B Group said, “This project opens up more opportunities for DB&B to build more meaningful workplaces in the future. It’s the start of a new journey for us to continue improving the way people work and live.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Brenda Chung, Executive Director & Chief Representative of Grosvenor, China commented, “We have entrusted this project to a team with the right expertise and experience. DB&B has gone beyond expectations to know what is necessary for us to make our office more sustainable.”

Project: Grosvenor Group, Shanghai, China
Design Studio: DB&B
Photo Credit: DB&B
Website: dbb.com