Pencil & Monk Design Studio

spatial envelopes

Pencil & Monk Design Studio Chennai, India Lighting Designers: Lighting Research & Design Text: Dr. Amardeep M. Dugar Photo Credits: Pencil & Monk

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he creative director of Mitrra Media, a firm dealing with movies, media and art direction wanted a career makeover into experience design. This desire to achieve similar illusionar y experiences of movies into interior spaces resulted in the inception of “Pencil & Monk” (P&M): a 1000 sq.ft. swanky office space. The aim was to design a work atmosphere that provides multiple experiences and enhances creativity while being energy conscious. Therefore, both daylight and electric light played a key role. Basic daylight design principles and 100% SSL technology enabled an overall lighting load of only 0.4W/sq.ft. This experience begins with a face of the Buddha at the entrance wall that greets visitors. However, only after entering the main studio is one able to realise that the Buddha’s face at the entrance in fact is an optical illusion. The real face is depicted on the other side of the same wall, while the one at the entrance is only a figure-ground impression. Both the figure-ground impression of the Buddha and P&M corporate logo on the adjacent wall are illuminated

with ceiling-mounted LED spotlights. The studio has a north facing picture window that provides a visual link between the inside and outside along with ample natural light during daytime. Although electric light is not required during daytime, the studio staffs sometimes tend to work late and therefore require adequate nighttime electric lighting. As the studio was primarily meant to be an experience centre to educate clients about the importance of good design, it was initially decided to use only a warm and welcoming colour temperature of 3000K. However, working with different colours for materials and interior finishes is a key aspect of experience design. Therefore, it was decided to create a neutral colour temperature island of 4000K in the main work area that enables better selection of colours. Ceiling-recessed low-depth circular LED panels in 4000K are used to provide glare-free soft lighting for the main work area. A circular LED pendant in 3000K is used to illuminate the meeting cum multigraphic display area. Rigid LED strips in 3000K integrated into the display

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shelves highlight the interesting collection of artefacts and books. Different colour temperatures and types of light fixtures are used to create a subtle differentiation between the activities within the space. Two types of LED pendants also define the two activities in main cabin. A circular LED pendant similar to the multi-graphic display area in 3000K warm-white is used to illuminate the revolving easy chairs for video presentation. The cabin is visually connected to the multigraphic display area in case clients want to enjoy the display of larger graphics, from their easy chairs. However, for private meetings the main cabin can be visually isolated from the rest of the office by floorto-ceiling retractable blinds. An elongated LED pendant in 3000K warm-white is used to illuminate the main desk. Similar rigid LED strips in 3000K integrated into the display shelves highlight the interesting collection of artefacts and books in the main cabin as well. The harsh evening sun from the west-facing window of the main cabin can be completely blocked by means of fully retractable floor-to-ceiling blinds in the evenings yet allow some amount of natural light.

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Sometimes a makeover in career requires a makeover in the working atmosphere. And when the makeover is as swanky as this one, why is anyone complaining? ■ Products Applied LED-C4 – NET circular and elongated pendants (43/44W LED); NOK spotlights (10W LED MR16 lamps) EPISTAR – Circular ceiling panels (15W LED) SAMSON LIGHTING – Rigid strips (5W LED)

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